Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed congratulates Oman on Gulf Cup win

The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces also thanks Kuwait's Emir for hosting the final

UAE fans cheer prior to the Gulf Cup of Nations soccer Final match between Oman and UAE at Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait. Noufal Ibrahim / EPA

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed congratulated Oman and the UAE on fraternal spirit, true sportsmanship that “decorated the closing of the Gulf Cup”.

“For the win is one, and together we have won the affection, love and pleasure of high competition,” the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said.

He congratulated the Sultanate of Oman and the winning team for their high performance and thanked the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah, for hosting the final.

As Omanis took to the streets on Friday night to celebrate their Gulf Cup Victory in Kuwait, Emiratis congratulated Omanis on social media.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid extended praised the leadership and “fantastic performance of Omani youth” on Twitter.

The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai had launched this weekend’s trending Arabic hashtag, “Oman UAE One Win”, sparking a conversation about the economic and family ties binding the countries.

“We are not just neighbours but your people,” wrote user @Alialyafai0. If you look, most of our UAE tribes are here in Oman and, also, we’ve married them and they married us. Oman and UAE are one.”

Twitter users responded to the Dubai Ruler's tweet with videos and photographs of UEA Rulers alongside Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Images included vintage photos of the Sultan with the UAE's Founding Father Sheikh Zayed.

Many used the hashtag to express the close kinship shared between the two countries in marriage, military and economy.

“I tell you with pride, my father was employed by the UAE military nearly 28 years, loved them and they loved him and the sincerity in his work and honour,” tweeted s1999.

“My sister in law is one of the first Emarati [sic] pilots, my cousins and half the family are UAE citizens, we have blood relations in the UAE... we are one family” tweeted Munira Al Balushi @FirstLadyOman.

“The response of Omanis and Emiratis here is the most beautiful responses on Twitter, showing the deep love and fraternity between the people,” wrote Oman-based user @hingool7.

The hashtag also attracted the attention of high profile politicians, such as Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, chair of Oman’s Majlis Al Shura. Who tweeted images of the UAE's Rulers with Sultan Qaboos bin Said. He listed the hashtags being used - we are all brothers, one khaleej, one win, one future - adding that he agreed with them all.

Little wonder then that Omanis and Emiratis were seen cheering for each other in the stands during the final.

It is not the first time that a national celebration is shared by both.

On National Day in Oman, some motorists decorate their cars with images of Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Zayed. In 2014, when the Sultan was undergoing medical treatment in Germany, Emiratis put his image on their vehicles for the UAE's National Day parade.

________________

Read more: