Related: Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed at 60: rare images shed light on Crown Prince's early life in Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is celebrating a milestone birthday on Thursday as he turns 60.
Birthday wishes poured in on social media under the hashtags #HappyBirthdayMbZ and #ميلاد_اسد_الامارات (meaning "birth of the lion of the Emirates").
Chief among the well-wishers was Sheikh Mohamed's teacher Ahmed Mandi Al Tamimi, who shared memories of the Crown Prince as a school pupil.
Mr Al Tamimi taught Sheikh Mohamed at Al Kindi Primary School from 1971 to 1975.
A video posted to Wam showed Mr Al Tamimi looking at archive photographs of himself with Sheikh Mohamed and his brothers Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, now the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, now Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
“He was in Grade 5 or 6, [Sheikh] Hamdan was in Grade 2 and [Sheikh] Hazza was in Grade 1, and they were like every other pupil,” said Mr Al Mandi, scrolling through the photographs.
The images of Sheikh Mohamed show him writing on a blackboard, focusing on his studies and practising public speaking.
Looking back on those days, Mr Al Tamimi spoke of Sheikh Mohamed’s hard work and discipline in school.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed visits his old teacher
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Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visits the home of his former teacher, Ahmed Al Tamimi, left, at Khalifa City. All photos by Mohammed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi -
Sheikh Mohamed was taught by Mr Al Tamimi in the 1970s. -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Al Tamimi discusses old times. -
Sheikh Mohamed and Mr Al Tamimi. -
Sheikh Mohamed thanked Mr Al Tamimi for his contribution to the UAE's education system.
“Sheikh Mohamed was very enthusiastic about attending the morning assembly. He even had a page he would read out in the morning from a magazine."
The teacher shared a voice recording of Sheikh Mohamed as he read out “words of wisdom” from the third issue of the morning magazine.
“Those who work hard will gain and those who plant seeds will reap a harvest, and those who walk the path, arrive at where they intend to be. Everyone must be diligent in their work,” Sheikh Mohamed read out to his fellow pupils.
His teacher said this early work paid off because Sheikh Mohamed became an accomplished public speaker.
"[He] is very logical and very objective."
The teacher also recalled how Sheikh Mohamed came to visit him at home in in 2017 long after his retirement. "He even brought his kids. It was like family visit," Mr Al Tamini said.
“We were overjoyed and shared memories. It was as if the past had never left,” he said.
In another tribute, UAE political analyst Dr Salem Al Ketbi wished Sheikh Mohamed a happy birthday and a long journey as a leader.
“Happy birthday Your Highness, happy birthday to you.”
Scores of other tweets paid tribute to Sheikh Mohamed as a brother, father and an inspiration to the entire country.
And Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, gave Sheikh Mohamed a special birthday present.
A tribute, based on Sheikh Mansour's poetry, was suing by Emirati singer Eida Al Menhali. The video detailed the Crown Prince's devotion to the UAE, love of its people and commitment to ensuring a better future for all. The song was set against a montage of images of Sheikh Mohamed attending events and meeting the country's citizens, along with archive footage of him with the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed.
