Dubai: Tracy Walton from the UK has lived in Dubai for 14 years. "I feel as if I have lost my true leader. This has shown me that I obviously consider the UAE my true home," she said.
Ebrahim Fahmi said: "Once again we find ourselves in this period of mourning and it really puts life into perspective. For me, it is like losing my father, leader and mentor.
"I still cannot believe it has happened and I don't think it will actually sink in for a while.
"Today we have lost a great man."
One woman couldn't even comment through the tears.
As she heard the news from her husband she broke down in the middle of a shopping mall and wept.
Fadi Wehbner, 19, said: "We have to build on what Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has shown us. He has led us to a strong place and we must continue to move forward in his great name.
"We have learnt so much from him and that is a good thing. He would want us to be strong and take Dubai to its full potential.
"Although it will be a sad time we must remember the great man he was and the power, success and light he gave to this city and the UAE as a whole."
Mohammad, 10, said: "I know this is a very sad time for Dubai and the rest of the UAE. I think of him as a great man and someone I look up to with lots of respect.
"My mother and father are very sad and we must now spend some time in mourning for him.
"I will remember many things he said and the things he told us that were good and right."
Lois Bretinger, 14, said: "In school I think we should draw pictures and write tributes to him as a way of remembering his name and work in Dubai. Everyone is very sad."
Firoz Merchant said: "Shaikh Maktoum was a remarkable and visionary leader who brought Dubai to such tremendous heights.
"None of the city's current growth would be possible if it hadn't been for Shaikh Maktoum's business insight.
"He was truly a brilliant leader with unique foresight and love for his country and his countrymen and will always be deeply respected by people and the lives that he touched."
"I remember Shaikh Maktoum when I worked for Dubai Municipality. I had a very, very high respect for him. He was a very wise and good-hearted person - and a very important personality. I felt truly sorry to hear the news, sorry from my heart. I am interested in old photographs of Dubai so I've seen a lot of his images over the years from the late 1950s onwards. With some people you can see from their faces that they are good people."
Dariush Zandi
Architect and photographer
"Coming so soon after Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan passed away, his death is a sad loss to the UAE. The two drew up the roadmap for the future of the country and we must thank them for giving us all the great opportunity to be part of that future. Shaikh Maktoum's name is known the world over through horse-racing and other interests that he had and he had certainly helped put Dubai on people's lips everywhere. He was an ambassador for the country who will be missed by many."
Steve Colman
Deputy programme controller Radio 2
"He was a very benevolent figure. He will always be remembered for the contribution he has made to Dubai's extraordinary development."
Roger Wilkinson
Zimbabwean businessman
"I'm shocked because he was still quite young."
A Danish sales manager
"My view is that I've lived here for almost 20 years and I've seen the Al Maktoum family make Dubai what it is today. They have had the resilience, the determination and the drive - and it has all happened with Shaikh Maktoum's blessing. No other city in the Gulf has had the freedom to make this development and it has been to the benefit of all. I feel sad at the passing of someone who has helped achieve all this."
An Egyptian hotel professional
- Compiled by Piers Grimley Evans, Staff Reporter
