On 3 January 1995, Sheikh Mohammed's elder brother Maktoum signed two decrees appointing him and his brother Hamdan as Crown Prince of Dubai.[37] Mohammed, at the time of being appointed crown prince, also served as Minister of Defence, a position he held since 9 December 1971,[30] following his time as Chief of the Dubai Police Force.[30]
Mohammed created the Dubai Shopping Festival in late 1995, an annual event that has become a significant contributor to the economy of the UAE.[38]
In 2001, Sheikh Mohammed ordered the arrest of Obaid Saqr bin-Busit, the head of Dubai Customs and the chairman of the World Customs Association.[39]