Dubai ruler's son Sheikh Rashid's death raises questions about drug use, sex parties

London: The eldest son of Dubai's Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum who was just 33-year-old died after apparently dying of a heart attack at home on Friday.

The official cause of his death was given as a heart attack.

However, as per a media report there have been allegations of drug and steroid abuse by Maktoum and he had been to several rehabs.

This is something that has apparently been known among the Emirati society circles.

According to a Daily Mail Online report, the untimely death of Sheikh Rashid has left many questions unanswered.

Rashid, the son of Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammad, is said to have withdrawn from public life in recent years.

In 2008 Sheikh Rashid was stripped of the title of crown prince and a third brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, 31, was given the title of deputy ruler of Dubai.

The report says that a confidential memo written by the then Acting Consul General David Williams for the CIA the same year, which was one of thousands released by Wikileaks, offers an insight into what really went on at the Zabeel Palace.

It said that Rashid killed an assistant in the Ruler's office and thus forfeited his opportunity to be heir.

But the identity of the aide supposedly murdered by Rashid has never been revealed.

It was suggested that the reason of the attack could have been because of 'roid rage', which is a reference to the steroids the prince was supposedly taking.

It is also alleged in another cable, this time written in the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh, that underground royal party scene was witness to sex parties and drugs very commonly.

Written by Consul General Martin Quinn, the dispatch claimed that the underground scene was only available to the very wealthy.

He further said that cocaine and hashish were commonly used in the circle that was mainly composed of aristocratic and princely members.

The Emirati princes, including Rashid were the wealthy guests to attend the parties, it was alleged.

But the Zabeel Palace has never commented on Rashid's alleged use of drugs.