He was the eldest son of the ruler of the United Arab Emirates with all the wealth and privilege that came with that position.
Sheikh Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum had the world at his feet. Educated at the best schools and wanting for nothing, his life seemed a charmed one.
His father is one of the top 10 richest royals in the world with a huge fortune of more than £3.3billion.
But aged 33 the young prince was found dead of a heart attack - a seemingly healthy young man struck down in the prime of his life.
One of 30 children, his was a privilieged position as the eldest. Known as Sheikh Rashid he first attended the exclusive Rashid School for Boys in Dubai before being sent to Britain to complete his education.
The royal attended Sandhurst Military Academy and graduated in 2002, just three years before Prince Harry studied there.
Sheikh Rashid seemed like the perfect royal, handsome, accomplished and with some impressive sporting achievements to his name.
A keen horseman, he took part in many equestrian events, even winning two gold mendals in the Asian Games in 2006.
The royal owned prestigious stables, where he trained his horses and his animals achieved a massive 428 wins.
Sheikh Rashid was also a passionate football fan and was a keen supporter of Manchester United.
The young Sheikh was also appointed to President of the UAE Olympic Committee and had a raft of business interests. He was the partner in an investment firm, a bank and property companies.
But six years after his graduation from Sandhurst, the royal was told he would never become Crown Prince of Dubai with his younger brother, Hamdan, being given the position.
The official reason was the Hamdan was simply better suited to the role than his elder brother - but behind the scenes, dark rumours were starting to swirl.
Allegedly a leaked, supposedly confidential, memo from the US consulate in Dubai was sent to Washington and claimed Sheikh had been involved in a death.
The alleged note, which was leaked by Wikileaks, said: "It is alleged that Rashid killed an assistant in the Ruler's office, thereby forfeiting his opportunity to be heir."
By 2010, Sheikh Rashid had resigned his position from the Olympic Committee, citing work committments taking up too much of his time but as the years went by he all but disappeared from public view.
And there were other disturbing rumours about the privileged royal. He was said to have attended drug-fuelled orgies, sometimes as lavish London hotels.
Another leaked memo from a second US diplomat said: "Behind the facade of Wahabi conservatism in the streets the underground nightlife for Jeddah's elite youth is thriving and throbbing.
"The full range of worldly temptations and vices are available – alcohol, drugs, sex – but strictly behind closed doors.
"This freedom to indulge carnal pursuits is possible merely because the religious police keep their distance when parties include the presence or patronage of a Saudi royal and his circle of loyal attendants."
There have also been claims, which have never been confirmed, that Sheikh Rashid had spent time in rehab because of his drug use.
And then, aged 33, he was found dead from a heart attack on September 18, 2015.
Dubai observed a three-day official mourning period for the sporty young royal and UAE flags were flown at half-mast throughout the country.
His funeral was held the day after his death and his father still rules, with Hamdan next in line for the throne.
