Maktoum bin Butti bin Sohal

Biography

He settled with 800 tribal members on the Shindagha Peninsula at the mouth of the Creek, declaring the town's (Town of Dubai) independence from Abu Dhabi, in 1833.

He left Abu Dhabi with 800 tribal members of the Al Bu Falasah, a branch of the Bani Yas tribe, to settle in Dubai. Dubai was at this time, as most of the settlements, a small town. He founded on 9 June 1833 Dubai, which until then belonged to Abu Dhabi. At the beginning of his tenure, he was very young, from historical records, however, it is evident that he was brave and skillful, all political and economic hurdles during the formation of the new sheikdom mastered confidently. Under his rule ended with the British in 1835 and 1853, the "Treaty of Perpetual Peace by sea" and the prohibition of the slave trade. So the coast was named Trucial Coast (ceasefire coast) and became the Protectorate of Great Britain. He urged back the prevailing piracy, thus ensuring a flourishing maritime trade. The pearl trade was under his rule the main source of income of Dubai.

Until his death in 1852, he was one of the most respected and influential people in Trucial States of the Persian Gulf. His successor as ruler of Dubai was his brother Sheikh Saeed bin Butti.