Selfies with residents, mall stroll: 5 moments of UAE President being a people's leader

In yet another familiar display of accessibility and humility, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan continues to demonstrate his closeness to residents, reinforcing his reputation as a leader deeply connected to his people.

From casual strolls through malls to taking selfies with residents, Sheikh Mohamed —often hailed as the people's leader— consistently displays a down-to-earth attitude that never goes unnoticed.

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Known to work up to 18 hours a day, with annual leave reportedly never exceeding a single week, Sheikh Mohamed has always found time to interact with residents despite his busy schedule.

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Here are five memorable moments highlighting his closeness to the people:

1. Being a tourist

During his recent trip to Hungary, Sheikh Mohamed used a camera to take pictures of beautiful scenery.

Like a normal tourist, he is seen capturing scenes from nature after being handed a camera.

2. Selfies with residents

In another obvious instance of humility, Sheikh Mohamed was seen in a previous video walking towards his car and stepping in, when he notices something and stops.

The UAE royal is then seen calling someone over as he steps back out of the car. The camera pans to two men who were earlier at the sideline. They are seen wearing big smiles as the President notices them.

Both expats then take a selfie with the President. Sheikh Mohamed is also seen indulging in a short conversation with them and greeting them with a smile.

3. Mall stroll

The UAE President was also captured in a video casually strolling through a bustling mall in Abu Dhabi. The clip showed him descending an escalator.

It also showed him leisurely walking past cafes and shops. What struck onlookers and viewers alike was the unassuming demeanour of Sheikh Mohamed, as many shoppers and cafe customers seemed unaware of his presence.

4. Meeting foster mothers

During a meeting with a group of foster mothers who have been taking care of children with all their hearts, Sheikh Mohamed shook the women's hands one by one, thanked them for providing a nurturing family for the kids and giving them the love and support that they need.

Starstruck children were seen smiling from ear to ear as they got the chance to greet - and even embrace Sheikh Mohamed.

The UAE President, being the loving and down-to-earth leader that he is, gave big hugs among the youngsters, even kissing the hand of one child.

5. Heartwarming gesture

An Emirati girl called Aisha Mohammed Mushait Al Mazrouei was among the scores of children who were part of an official reception hosted for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz back in 2019.

Unintentionally, Sheikh Mohamed missed Aisha's stretched-out hand during the programme but he made sure to make it up for her.

The people's leader realised the girl's disappointment and visited her at her home on the UAE National Day. There, he gave the little girl his undivided attention, repeatedly kissing her hand and forehead. Have a look at the video of the inadvertent slip and how Sheikh Mohamed made up for it after:

Yasmin Hussein

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yasminabdel@khaleejtimes.com

Yasmin Hussein is an Assistant Digital Editor who believes that every news story carries a human element. Her motto is 'get it first, but first get it right'.