Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has the largest following on Twitter in the Arab world. With 8.44 million followers, he is among the 10 most followed world leaders on Twitter. Since Sheikh Mohammed launched his account on Twitter in 2009, the medium has evolved into a digital town hall for the region in our still young century. It enables citizens to air their concerns and share their ideas directly with their leaders, while permitting the government to disseminate crucial information instantly.
As Sheikh Mohammed himself said three years ago, Twitter and other forms of social media have "created new opportunities, removed all barriers & made the audience part of [the UAE's] development plans. Having a tremendous influence, today social media channels serve as an open parliament and cannot be ignored or misled." Sheikh's Mohammed's following, which is in excess of 15 million across platforms, is a measure of how deeply he is admired, especially in the Arab world, for his philanthropic endeavours. For many communities, he epitomises benevolence and wisdom.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is most followed Arab leader on Twitter
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attracts 15 million followers online
Middle East leaders some of the most engaging on Twitter
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A brief survey of the region's most followed accounts gives a sense of Twitter's importance as tool of constructive communication in the region. Queen Rania of Jordan, with just over 8 million followers, is the second most followed user of Twitter in the region after Sheikh Mohammed. Her numbers are trailed by those of King Salman of Saudi Arabia, who has over six million followers.
The role Twitter can play in promoting participatory citizenship was highlighted by Sheikh Mohammed in 2013, when he invited his followers to generate original ideas to improve health and education in the country. The following year, he launched the Twitter hashtag #ThankYouKhalifa in Arabic as a tribute to the President, Sheikh Khalifa. His increasing following demonstrates to the world the good uses to which new technology can be put.
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Company Profile
Founder: Omar Onsi
Launched: 2018
Employees: 35
Financing stage: Seed round ($12 million)
Investors: B&Y, Phoenician Funds, M1 Group, Shorooq Partners
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
Sarfira
Director: Sudha Kongara Prasad
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Radhika Madan, Paresh Rawal
Rating: 2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets