UAE leaders offer Nowruz greetings

President Sheikh Mohamed leads messages of hope for those celebrating the Iranian New Year

President Sheikh Mohamed said he hopes the year brings peace and prosperity. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

President Sheikh Mohamed has sent his best wishes to those celebrating the festival of Nowruz, the Iranian new year.

“I extend my sincere best wishes to all those celebrating Nowruz, both in the UAE and around the world, and hope that the year ahead is one of peace and prosperity for you and your families,” he wrote on social media platform X on Wednesday.

He was joined by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, who also wrote on X: "We extend our warmest congratulations to all peoples around the world celebrating Nowruz, wishing them a joyful year ahead.

"May your days be abundant with blossoming springs, peace and security, and may you thrive in prosperity and stability."

Nowruz is believed to date back to about the sixth century BC, and is one of the holiest days in the ancient Zoroastrian calendar.

About 300 million people are said to observe the holiday, which celebrates renewal and the coming spring, every year.

The word Nowruz loosely translates to new day, combining the Farsi words “now”, meaning new, and “ruz”, meaning day.

It is traditionally marked in parts of Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, India, Iraqi Kurdistan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.