It has been an emotional seven days for Emirati Twitter users, with local hashtags prominent in their social- media posts.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, asked Tweeters to help name the UAE’s Mars probe, prompting a lot of suggestions and expressions of pride in the project.
A hashtag “Describe the UAE in two words” had some tweeters lost in translation, with several suggestions exceeding the word limit.
Meanwhile, the humble personality and kindness of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, inspired people to call him “the soul of the UAE”.
Mars probe
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid started it all when he tweeted that the Mars probe “is an Arab-Islamic project, we want all Arabs to be involved in this project and to open doors of hope and optimism. This is the beginning of Arabs entering space”.
@JustAfkary shared what she thinks about the project: “It’s a probe of love and peace.”
@HeshamAlhosani, a member of the Abu Dhabi Education Council, tweeted: “I suggest we call it ‘Al Marasheed probe’.”
@SAS_Ajman, who is a writer at Al Roya newspaper, suggested "Zayed probe".
@sghamdyy, a researcher in the production of clean energy from nature, noted: “This is the beginning of our space invasion”.
The Abu Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (@ADVETI_AbuDhabi) also suggested the names “Zayed probe” and “Peace probe”.
Describe the UAE
People in the UAE are always keen to show their love for their country, so this topic gave them the chance to do so.
@7dooo21 came up with two phrases: “Developed country” and “loyal citizens”.
@alsyasiyeh shared a slogan that was launched by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and points to the unity of the UAE. She wrote: “Our house is united.”
@waseem_yousef, the imam of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, wrote: “We are Zayed’s sons.”
@s_almogren, who is a columnist at Al Jazeera newspaper and author for a number of books, wrote: "The words to describe the UAE are not created yet."
@majedalraeesi1 shared his opinion of the UAE by simply tweeting: “Number one.”
The soul of the UAE
The humbleness of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed created great emotion among Twitter users. Rather than words, many of them preferred to use photographs of Sheikh Mohammed hugging children, saluting army officers and, in one picture, praying. Many people noted how much he looks like his late father, Sheikh Zayed.
@sarab_shj expressed the thought that the UAE leaders demonstrate good morals in helping their citizens: “They are leaders who make their people happy.”
@bintkhalifa2020 wrote that Sheikh Mohammed was a “personality who helped shape history”. @yasooof119 had the same opinion.
@queen_shmoo5 tweeted: “We see Zayed in him.” And @alfaz3aaa wrote: “We see Sheikh Zayed in Sheikh Mohammed, we will defend him with our hearts and souls with all our strength.”
@mayar_laith: “You can see the kindness in his face, may Allah protect him.”
@ADUAEA said that Sheikh Mohammed’s deep insight was clearly obvious in his popular saying, “Al Bayt Mitwahid”, which means that the UAE is one united house. “He is the soul of the Emirates,” the tweeter concluded.
Sarah Khamis is The National’s social media editor
salalawi@thenational.ae
On Twitter: @SarahKhamisUAE