{
  "id": 8469919,
  "title": "Mohammed bin Rashid addresses Dubai youth with story of the ‘Years of the Card’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/mohammed-bin-rashid-addresses-dubai-youth-with-story-of-the-years-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T12:20:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/mohammed-bin-rashid-addresses-dubai-youth-with-story-of-the-years-of-the-card-1.500680627"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recently delivered a message to Dubai's youth, reminiscing about the \"Years of the Card\". This era marked a period of severe economic hardship in Dubai, triggered by the decline of the pearling industry and the disruption of trade during World War II. Sheikh Mohammed recounted how Dubai faced two significant shocks: the collapse of the pearling industry, which was the backbone of the local economy, followed by the wartime disruption that further exacerbated the situation. Historical records indicate that the pearl trade's collapse led to widespread food shortages across the Trucial States, with the war only adding to the community's struggles. To alleviate the dire circumstances, Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum initiated a rationing system under his brother Sheikh Saeed's guidance, distributing food cards to families in need. These cards symbolized the dire times when Dubai's economy, reliant on a single resource, crumbled, leaving the city grappling with poverty, hunger, and disease. Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the lessons learned from this period, noting how economies dependent on a single resource are vulnerable to collapse. He shared how Sheikh Rashid witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of poverty and vowed never to let such a situation recur. This narrative serves as a reminder of Dubai's resilience and the courage of its people who refused to succumb to hardship. Sheikh Mohammed urged the youth to reflect on this history as they shape Dubai's future, emphasizing the importance of remembering how the city once endured such trials. He concluded his letter by urging the youth to remain vigilant, as forgetting the past can lead to arrogance and decline.",
  "summary": "Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, addressed a message to Dubai’s young men and women recounting the story of the “Years of the Card”, a period of severe hardship that followed the collapse of the pearling industry and the disruption of trade and supplies during the Second World War. In the message, Sheikh…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Mohammed bin Rashid shares six decades of life lessons in letter to Ajman Ruler",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/mohammed-bin-rashid-shares-six-decades-of-life-lessons-in-letter-to",
        "published": "2026-09-19T08:01:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}