A picture of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, bonding with his son, Zayed, at Shake Shack has taken social media by a storm. The photograph posted on Instagram this week by his wife, Princess Haya, generated thousands of likes and heart-warming comments. This is not the first time Sheikh Mohammed has been seen in public. Two months ago, another picture of him with his family at IMG Worlds of Adventure evoked similar response.
Such sights are rare in most countries. Remember how Americans reacted with a sense of awe and astonishment when president Barack Obama took a walk from the White House to a nearby Starbucks in 2014? They called it unprecedented and did not seem to know how to react.
But Sheikh Mohammed’s visit to the restaurant is emblematic of the openness of our leadership in general, who are frequently seen in civic spaces.
