Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum was an Emirati royal and politician who served as the second vice president, first and third prime minister of the United Arab Emirates and as the ruler of Dubai. He was prime minister from 1971 to 1979 and from 1990 to 2006, he served as the ruler of Dubai from 1990 to 2006. He was succeeded after his death by his brother Sheikh Mohammed as Ruler of Dubai.

The Ruler of Dubai is the position of the hereditary monarch and head of government of the Emirate of Dubai, one of the six ruling families of the UAE. The Ruler is also considered the head of the House of Maktoum, the royal family of Dubai. After the unification of the Emirate of Dubai within the United Arab Emirates, the Ruler of Dubai nominally assumes the position of Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and sits at the seat reserved for Dubai at the Federal Supreme Council.