The Crown Prince of Dubai and his wife on Thursday had twins, a boy and a girl.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed and Sheikha Sheikha bint Saeed were sent messages of congratulations from across the nation on Thursday night.
The baby boy’s name is Rashid, while the baby girl’s name is Sheikha.
Well-wishers flooded on to social media to offer their congratulations.
-

The classic Leaning Tower of Pisa shot. Instagram / Faz3 -

Sheikh Hamdan in Uzbekistan, a place he says has a 'special place' in his heart. Instagram / Faz3 -

On the Skydeck in Chicago. Instagram / Faz3 -

In the cold in Canada in January 2018. Instagram / Faz3 -

Last year he also went on a cycling tour in Estonia: the crown prince often makes trips to places that are off the beaten track. Instagram / Faz3 -

With a teetering rock sculpture in Norway back in 2014. Instagram / Faz3 -

Exploring the glaciers of New Zealand, a country he called 'beautiful' back in May 2015. Instagram / Faz3 -

Wearing traditional dress in Japan. Instagram / Faz3 -

By a waterfall on one of the Faroe Islands, which are 18 rocky, volcanic islands between Iceland and Norway. Instagram / Faz3 -

A classic Paris shot. Instagram / Faz3 -

In one of his favourite places, Uzbekistan, back in 2015. Spot his dad, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, doing his signature move in the background. Instagram / Faz3 -

Cycling in San Francisco in 2015. Instagram / Faz3 -

Taking a snap with a young Tanzanian back in March, 2016. Instagram / Faz3 -

He's a huge fan of cycling, having been behind many cycling initiatives in Dubai, and he's definitely showing his support for the activity here. Instagram / Faz3 -

With the famous Uncle Saeed in Amsterdam in 2016. Instagram / Faz3 -

Here he is spearfishing, one of his favourite past times. Instagram / Faz3 -

Here's Sheikh Hamdan on the road in Algeria. Instagram / Faz3 -

A breathtaking photo of the Crown Prince in Yosemite National Park in the US. Instagram / Faz3 -

Here's the Crown Prince trekking through the nature of Yorkshire, in England. Instagram / Faz3 -

Sheikh Hamdan skiing in Aspen. Instagram / Faz3 -

He's a keen photographer, and is pictured here with a camera in Tanzania. Instagram / Faz3 -

At the World Equestrian Games in North Carolina last year. Instagram / Faz3 -

A morning coffee mid-air back in May 2016. Instagram / Faz3 -

In the clouds, with an amazing view on show in Canada back in January 2016. Instagram / Faz3 -

Driving through London in a Tesla. Instagram / Faz3 -

And here he in June, 2018, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Instagram / Faz3 -

Here he is at Royal Ascot in the UK last summer with his father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Instagram / Faz3 -

Here's a closer to home travel photo, with the Crown Prince hiking through Hatta. Instagram / Faz3 -

And here he is in a cloudy landscape, which is also likely to be from his trip in Canada. Instagram / Faz3 -

Here's a throwback Thursday to when he was at Sandhurst Royal Military College in the United Kingdom. Instagram / Faz3 -

Out for a walk in the Big Apple. Instagram / Faz3 -

The Crown Prince looking out over New York. Instagram / Faz3 -

At the airport in Algeria with his father and brother. Instagram / Faz3 -

Taking a moment in Italy back in 2015. Instagram / Faz3 -

Sheikh Hamdan in Paris. Instagram / Faz3 -

Trying a burger in Tokyo, Japan. Instagram / Faz3 -

The Crown Prince hiking in Scotland during this year's summer. Instagram / Faz3
Senior UAE figures were among those to offer warm words to the parents.
"I congratulate my brother His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, for the arrival of his two children," Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, wrote on Twitter.
"Oh God, save them with your protection and make them the apple of the eye of their parents."
Sheikh Hamdan announced the news to his legions of followers in style.
The Dubai Crown Prince, a popular figure on social media, shared an image of a pair of small feet, one pink and one blue, to represent his happy news.
His sister, Sheikha Maryam bint Mohammed, also shared the image on social media in celebration with her brother.
Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikha Sheikha bint Saeed married in May, 2019.
Two of Sheikh Hamdan's brothers were also married during a ceremony described as a "joy of the nation".
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
While you're here
Hussein Ibish: There are reasons for Democrats and Republicans to be happy
Rashmee Roshan Lall: Who are the women driving Joe Biden's success?
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
While you're here
Gavin Esler: Will 2021 be Boris Johnson's worst year?
Thomas Harding: US relations with Europe could change
Brodie Owen: How England’s new lockdown rules work
You might also like
How a groundbreaking soil-less farming inititiave is empowering rural communities across Jordan
Essay: Venice's floods should serve as a wake-up call for the world
UAE ready for innovation in area of water management – this is not a pipe dream
Saudi artist Manal AlDowayan unveils new piece of land art addressing water scarcity in Al Ula
You might also like
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
While you're here
Damien McElroy: It's too early to say who will win the vaccine hurdle race
Mustafa Alrawi: To get the 'jab' done, governments must show patience and empathy
Editorial: The fight against Covid-19 should be guided by science
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
While you're here
Sulaiman Hakemy: Joe Biden has given Afghanistan its own 9/11
National Editorial: Afghanistan's next civil war will be far messier
Con Coughlin: If US cannot lead on Afghanistan, Taliban rule will follow
The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
MATCH INFO
Argentina 47 (Tries: Sanchez, Tuculet (2), Mallia (2), De La Fuente, Bertranou; Cons: Sanchez 5, Urdapilleta)
United States 17 (Tries: Scully (2), Lasike; Cons: MacGinty)
RESULTS
6.30pm: Meydan Sprint Group 2 US$175,000 1,000m
Winner: Ertijaal, Jim Crowley (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap $60,000 1,400m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
7.40pm: Handicap $160,000 1,400m
Winner: Raven’s Corner, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar
8.15pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group 3 $200,000 2,000m
Winner: Folkswood, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
8.50pm: Zabeel Mile Group 2 $250,000 1,600m
Winner: Janoobi, Jim Crowley, Mike de Kock
9.25pm: Handicap $125,000 1,600m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer
While you're here
National Editorial: Donald Trump has left his mark on the Middle East
Con Coughlin: The thorn in the side of Biden's foreign policy team
James Reinl: Biden’s Yemen U-turn gets thumbs-up overseas
Raghida Dergham: Will Biden's 'maximum diplomacy' with Iran work?
While you're here
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
The specs
Engine 60kwh FWD
Battery Rimac 120kwh Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (LiNiMnCoO2) chemistry
Power 204hp Torque 360Nm
Price, base / as tested Dh174,500
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5

