Dubai ruler tours govt offices, finds some managers absent

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the ruler of Dubai, in a surprise spot check toured government offices early on Sunday only to find out some managers absent.

His tour was captured on a video published by Dubai’s media office and widely shared on social media.

At 7:30 a.m. local time, Sheikh Mohammed started his tour when he visited Dubai municipality, Dubai international airport, the land department and the department of economic development. He found a number of managers absent.

The 67-year-old sheikh was seen walking into an empty room but it was not clear whose office it was. However, at the Dubai international airport, immigration officers were sitting at their desks doing their work.

Ali bin Tamim, editor-in-chief of UAE’s www.24.ae tweeted: As we are celebrating Emirati women’s day, Sheikh Mohammed tours in government offices to find managers and high rank employees absent.

Meanwhile, the Emirati journalist Maryam Bint Fahad also tweeted: “Sheikh Mohammed makes several field tours in government offices and finds the desks of senior officials empty.”

Dubai’s media office on Twitter stressed that managers were not superior to rank-and-file employees.

It is not the first time that Sheikh Mohammed has surprised employees in Dubai in an attempt to keep work ethics on par with the best.