It has become impossible to describe the growth of Dubai to anyone who has not visited the jewel of the Persian Gulf. But no matter how many buildings are constructed—such as the Burj Dubai, already the world’s tallest while still incomplete—or how many quirky landmarks are established—such as an indoor ski slope or an underwater hotel—one constant remains: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, the mastermind of Dubai’s bursting from the sands of the Arabian peninsula desert into global prominence.