Original story.

Mohammad treats family to true Arab hospitality
Gulf News Report
Published: February 03, 2009, 23:51

Dubai: It was a once in a lifetime moment.

A European family on a picnic in Dubai was surprised when a 4x4 stopped near them.

It was none other than His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who was driving past and saw a car parked by the main road.

It seems the family parked their car which could not get any further into the desert, and walked a few hundred metres where they set up their camp.

Shaikh Mohammad noticed the car at the side of the road and footprints leading into the desert. Out of concern, he ventured in with his jeep and followed the trail to make sure everything was fine. He saw the family camping and taking pictures.

Greeting them, he welcomed them to Dubai and in true traditional Arab hospitality served them coffee, and spent time chatting with them.

The family experienced first-hand the chivalry and humility of a great leader.

Seems like a nice guy and down to earth (considering his position).
Heard he was a great car enthusiast and quite an acomplished rally driver with pro level skills.
Btw,it looks shocking to see this guy not sorrounded with a falang of bodyguards(unlike every other two bit ,freshly minted russkie "billionaire" with just a fraction of the Sheik's wealth but 1000 times the ego)

Great story! He is definitely a down to earth guy. Always drives alone in his G. I bump into him on almost every trip to Dubai, either on the road or at the Emirates Towers, where one of his offices is.

BTW, looks like he got an 09! Looks a lot like mine, though I've got the porcelain interior.

He just happened to be driving around with a coffee pot and extra cups?

^ this is true, but maybe he does...who knows

Not surprised, he know's tourism is very important part of their economy in Dubai.

I love the license plate. If that's not bling, I don't know what is.

My guess is he doesn't fear for his safety because he or his family didn't step on a ton of people's toes on the way up? (someone can chime in on this, what do i know lol)

Who picnics in the desert?

If you can google dsc00832cz0.jpg it has a close up of the license plate. Real cool. Different grill though.

sprfrkr: When the "outdoors" is the desert, that's where you go camping or for picnics. No different than a lake, forrest, beach, etc. It may not be what you're used to, but it's perfectly normal for people to spend their weekends here either at the beach or the desert...at least in the winter.

kenshaaka: He has more than 20 G-wagens and gets a dozen or so new ones every time there is a change in body style or engine and then gets rid of the old ones. They are all white, all with the same license plate. Why have one when you can have many? Mercedes always sends him the first of every new series of AMG G-wagens as he has been driving them since 1981.

Very nice guy of him to do that.

and god that that license plate alone is so baller.