Photo: Instagram / Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
When you think of royals, you might picture individuals adorned with glittering crowns, surrounded by a large entourage. However, the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is quite different. In many respects, he is just like any of us. As Sheikh Hamdan celebrates his 42nd birthday today, we reflect on some 'ordinary' moments from his extraordinary life as he drives the transformation of the emirate.
1. His day begins with coffee
On the morning of his birthday, he shared a story on Instagram. Instead of a lavish breakfast party, Sheikh Hamdan opted for simplicity. He started his day with coffee, posting a photo of Arabic coffee being brewed in a traditional dallah (coffee pot). Shortly after, he headed to the gym and ran on the treadmill to meet his fitness goals for the day (Remember? It's Day 20 of the Dubai Fitness Challenge).
2. He shops for groceries with his kids
Any parent knows that a trip to the grocery store with young children can be quite an adventure. There might be endless running around, and the potential for meltdowns over candies they are not allowed to have. Yet, families do it because it's a fun learning experience for kids. Sheikh Hamdan did just that in August when he and his family were on holiday abroad. Check out this photo of the Dubai Crown Prince in a hoodie, filling up a shopping cart with his kids (one of them seated right in the cart):
3. He loves the viral Dubai chocolate
When everyone was talking about the viral pistachio kunafa chocolate from Fix, of course, Sheikh Hamdan knew about it too. And he loved it. But being the crown prince, he took it a step further by collaborating with the chocolate's makers to create his own flavor. How cool is that?
4. He jumps on trends for the 'Gram
Remember when Netflix released a template where netizens could insert an image and share it as if it's a new show titled 'My Best Day'? Millions of people created their own 'Netflix shows' — and Sheikh Hamdan was one of them. Here's his entry, featuring an unseen photo of him and his family:
5. He takes selfies in the car
What do you do when you've dressed up for a function (and put on your sunglasses) and find yourself stuck in traffic? Take out your phone and click a selfie? Admit it, you have a photo taken from this same angle:
These five moments were all captured in 2024 alone; many more were shared from previous years because this is how Sheikh Hamdan is. He's a simple, down-to-earth leader who knows his priority: it's not pomp and glamour — but public service. He may be a prince who does incredible things that will shape the future of Dubai, but in many ways, he's just like us — enjoying the simple moments and living everyday life the best way he knows how.
Source link: https://www.khaleejtimes.com
