Federal Vice President and prime minister, and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum (MBR) began the year with a brace of statements seemingly designed to restate his economic and political philosophy. On 5 January, he set out eight defining principals for governing Dubai, followed the next day by a 50-year charter. Both statements concentrated on one of his favourite themes: that government leaders should focus on delivering tangible improvements to the quality of life of the people they govern.