The Late Mohammed bin Rashid Al Tamimi United Arab Emirates

The late Mohammed bin Rashid Al Tamimi spent much of his early life travelling in pursuit of his own education. He studied primary school in Bahrain, secondary school in Jordan and finally in Saudi Arabia, he pursued his undergraduate studies at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah. Upon graduation he worked in the Saudi Arabian city of Dhahran. In 1953 he joined the Saudi Arabian Department of Education, who sent him to California, USA, to further develop his English-language skills. His life was to change course following an invitation from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to teach the children of Al Ain. Being the only teacher in Al Ain, he founded the first ‘formal” school in the city in 1955, where the roll call rose quickly to 40 students, to whom he taught the principles of mathematics, Arabic language and the Holy Quran. He also laid the foundations for the formation of a Scouts organisation at the school. Mr. Al Tamimi oversaw the education of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and many other notable figures including His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President’s Representative, and His Excellency Sheikh Suroor bin Mohammed. Invited to work in the Diwan of His Highness the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, he rose to become Secretary of the Private Department of His Highness the Ruler and His Highness the Crown Prince. Retirement did not stop Mr. Al Tamimi from continuing to promote the value of education and in 1997 he was awarded the Sheikh Khalifa Award for Education. Known for his modesty and love of teaching, Mr. Al Tamimi continued to offer support and guidance to all those who contacted him until his death in 2009.