Sheikh Mohammed visits Afghan carpet shop worker made famous through viral video - in pictures

The man famously refused to sell a portrait of UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed because it had hung in his shop for 25 years

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed visited the Afghani carpet souq in Abu Dhabi on Thursday to meet the man made famous by a viral video last year.

In the video, that circulated social media in October, an unidentified Emirati man asks the Afghani shop worker to sell him his portrait of UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed.

“No,” the man says “this is my baba Zayed.

“This souq is Baba Zayed’s.”

The man offers the worker Dh100,000 but he refuses, saying the portrait has hung in the shop for 25 years.

“Baba Zayed was good mashallah.” The man brings in his father who tells the Emirati man he has been living in the UAE for 40 years and will not sell him the photo because he loves Sheikh Zayed.

On Thursday, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited Al Safa Carpet Shop where the man works and pinned a Year of Zayed badge on his chest. Later he took to Twitter to express his admiration for the dedicated worker and his love for Sheikh Zayed.

“The UAE embodies the approach of good established by Zayed as a global model of tolerance and coexistence.

“It has won the hearts of millions around the world. There are many people throughout the country who love us in their hearts ... live with us ... and share our dreams and aspirations,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

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