From UAE royals to residents, 10 acts of kindness that won people's hearts

Dubai: From its leaders to its residents, UAE continues to show that kindness is more than a virtue, it’s a way of life.

As Sheikh Hamdan once said, “We exist to serve the people, not to rule over them.” On World Kindness Day, these stories remind us that true greatness lies not in power, but in empathy.

The delivery rider who stopped traffic 

In 2022, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, captured hearts online when he shared a clip of a delivery rider who had stopped to remove concrete blocks from a busy road.

“An act of goodness in Dubai to be praised. Can someone point me to this man?” he tweeted.

Soon after, he shared a follow-up post: “The good man has been found. Thank you, Abdul Ghafoor — you are one of a kind. We will meet soon!”
It was a simple moment, but one that spoke volumes about recognising everyday heroes.

Dubai’s ‘cat rescue heroes’ rewarded

A group of four Dubai residents found themselves in the spotlight after rescuing a pregnant cat trapped on a balcony. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, praised their quick thinking, calling them “unsung heroes”.

The men — Nasser Mohammad, Atif Mehmood, Rashid Mohammad and Ashraf Bleinza — were later rewarded with Dh50,000 each. It was a touching reminder that no act of kindness goes unnoticed in the UAE.

Sheikh Hamdan’s praise for an official’s gentle gesture

When a video surfaced showing Emirati official Jamal Abdulrahman kneeling down to listen to an elderly woman, Sheikh Hamdan once again took to social media.

“I’m very happy with Jamal Abdulrahman’s gesture,” he wrote. “His actions truly embody our core values… we exist to serve the people, not to rule over them.”

The clip quickly went viral, reminding everyone that true leadership starts with humility.

Ajman Police gave shelter to a stranded tourist

When an African tourist’s car broke down late at night on her way to Oman, officers at Masfout Police Station in Ajman didn’t hesitate. With no hotels nearby, they opened the doors of their guest lounge, offered her food and comfort until her car was repaired.

What could’ve been a stressful ordeal turned into a story she’ll likely never forget.

The ‘Kindness Team’ that saved 25,000 Lives

Back in 2015, three Indian expats — Shihab Theruvath, Anwar Wayanad, and Salam Kanyappady — launched the Kindness Blood Donation Team.
Over the years, their group grew into a force that conducted more than 250 blood drives, saving an estimated 25,000 lives. Even during the pandemic, they carried on proving that compassion truly knows no pause.

Sheikh Mohamed’s selfie that won the internet

A couple of years ago, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spotted two workers shyly hoping for a selfie. Instead of waving and leaving, he stepped out of his car, smiled, and invited them to take the photo with him. That single, spontaneous act of humility quickly went viral, earning admiration across the world.

MrBeast joins the UAE’s mission of kindness

At the 1 Billion Followers Summit, global YouTube creator MrBeast partnered with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives to launch the “1 Billion Acts of Kindness” campaign.

The aim is to inspire content creators to spread kindness globally and proving that digital influence can indeed drive real-world impact.

Kindness at Dubai Airport that brought tears

When an elderly woman was leaving Dubai, an airport officer, Abdullah Al Baloushi, noticed her family’s emotional goodbye. Instead of letting her go, he brought her son closer for a proper farewell, saying gently, “Ask her for a prayer — and tell her we’re waiting for her to return.”

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, shared the touching video, writing: “This is the Dubai we want.”

100 strangers gave a little boy the gift of hearing

In December, over 100 athletes in Dubai swam, ran and cycled non-stop for 53 hours to raise funds for a five-year-old boy named Feroz, born deaf.
Their effort helped fund his cochlear implant surgery, giving him, quite literally, the gift of sound.

The ‘Kindness and Mercy’ campaign for families

Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Family Development Foundation launched the “Kindness and Mercy” campaign.

The initiative aimed to strengthen family bonds and highlight marriage as a cornerstone of stability, a reflection of Sheikha Fatima’s lifelong mission to nurture compassion within society.