Emiratis and expats celebrate in festive rally

Dubai: Thousands of people, from different nationalities, marched on Saturday in Dubai to express their admiration, love and loyalty to His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The rally was held to celebrate the second anniversary for the accession of Shaikh Mohammad as the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The rally started the Dubai World Trade Centre and ended at Shaikh Mohammad's palace in Za'abeel, and was led by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

With the Dubai Police band playing in the front, men, women and children from different nationalities, walked towards Shaikh Mohammad's palace in Za'abeel holding banners and pictures congratulating Shaikh Mohammad and expressing their love and loyalty to the great leader.

Present at the rally also were sons of Shaikh Mohammad, including Shaikh Mayed, Shaikh Saeed and Shaikh Ahmad. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Dubai Police Chief, also attended the rally.

The road from the Trade Centre to the Za'abeel Roundabout were covered with the colours of the UAE flag - green, red, white and black - and cars were decorated with flowers and balloons to celebrate the day.

The sound of drums mixed with laughter and whistles could be heard all over the area with the hope that the message of love and admiration will reach Shaikh Mohammad.

Some young men were performing the traditional dance while some old Emirati women were heard ululating giving the march its jubilant nature.

Ahmad Bin Jeemas, a 21-year-old Emirati, said for him the march is a message of love to his country and to Shaikh Mohammad.

"Our generation has learnt a lot from Shaikh Mohammad. He taught me that with will and determination there is no impossible things in life. Therefore, we cannot but show loyalty and love to the man that made us feel great about being Emiratis," he said.

Abdullah Bilkheir, an Emirati singer, said he is happy to have Shaikh Mohammad as his leader and so came to join his countrymen in the festivity.

"Shaikh Mohammad is an example that each and every Emirati should seek to be like and we all should join him in his mission to develop our country. Therefore it is important to celebrate and support him."

Saif Saeed, a 28-year-old Emirati policeman, said it is a national duty to celebrate the second anniversary of Shaikh Mohammad taking over the rule.

Celebrating Shaikh Mohammad is not only a national duty confined to Emiratis but also many residents from different nationalities who took to the streets to express their love and admiration.

Mohammad Nizar, an Indian manager, who has been living in Dubai for more than 30 years, said that he participated in the march to forward a message of admiration to a man that is devoting his life to build his country and help needy people.

Rashida Nizar, an Indian housewife, decided to join the march despite undergoing an open heart surgery.

"I am marching for a good man with a good cause although there are no words that describes my admiration to him not only because he made Dubai what it is today but more importantly for devoting so much time, effort and money to needy people across the world," she said.

Aisha Khalil, a Palestinian housewife, said Shaikh Mohammad is not only looking after Emiratis but has also made his mission to be the guardian of Arabs as a whole.

"On behalf of the Burmese community who has been living in the country since the 1960s, I would like to show our gratitude to Shaikh Mohammad and the UAE for being so supportive," said Mohammad Hussain, head of the Burmese Society in Dubai.