In pictures: Sheikh Mohammed's 2012

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai talks with Princess Ameerah Al Taweel, Vice Chairperson of Al Waleed bin Talal Foundation of Kuwait at the Arab Women Leadership Forum at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai in November. (Photo by Jeff Topping/The National)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid visited a number of schools in Emirates of Fujeirah and Ras Al Khaimah during the celebrations of UAE's 41st National Day. (Photo from WAM)

H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid meets with (L) Mohammed VI, King of Morocco at Mushrif Palace. Also in attendance is (R) Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. (Philip Cheung / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi )

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and Sultan Qaboos Bin Saeed of Oman held talks on bilateral ties at the Zabeel Palace in Dubai. (Photo courtesy of WAM)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid chats with Gordon Brown, UN Special Envoy for Global Education, at the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum at Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre in Dubai. (Photo by Sarah Dea/The National)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid addressed the Federal National Council at the start of it's first session in November in Abu Dhabi. (Photo by Sammy Dallal / The National)

Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, National Security Advisor, interact during an Iftar hosted by Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research at his palace in Al Bateen in Abu Dhabi. (Photo by Ravindranath K / The National)

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and (R) Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Higher Education at the graduation ceremony at the Dubai Mens College at the Academy City in Dubai. (Photo by Satish Kumar / The National )

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with the trophy after his horse Monterosso won the Dubai World Cup (2000m All Weather), the world's richest horse race at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. (Photo by Pawan Singh / The National)