Dubai: The new public Facebook page of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is a hit among online social networkers, garnering almost 74,000 'fans' or supporters.
Shaikh Mohammad previously uploaded a personal profile page on Facebook, but announced that he was migrating to a public page, after the huge number of friend requests.
Three photo albums are currently uploaded: 'Shaikh Mohammad engaging with world leaders' (updated on Monday); 'Shaikh Mohammad spending time with the local community'; and 'wall photos' showing Shaikh Mohammad at a brick-laying ceremony for the new Al Jalila Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Paediatric Hospital.
The 'discussions' section is also proving popular, with Dubai residents posting questions and discussing topics among themselves. Topics of discussion include education, sustainable energy and dress code in the emirate.
Shaikh Mohammad himself has also been communicating with his Facebook 'fans': "His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum [is] touched by the greetings on facebook and twitter - thank you for your kind words and wishes today," a recent status update read.
As a 'fan' of Shaikh Mohammad, social networking site users can read status updates from His Highness, view photos, videos and statements, as well as read information about Shaikh Mohammad himself.
Users can also view and upload comments on Shaikh Mohammad's photos and signal that they like the photos (by clicking on the thumbs-up symbol for 'like').
Shaikh Mohammad's 'engaging with world leaders' photo album, for example, has received 1,655 'thumbs up' from his fans.
Pictures in the album include one of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Shaikh Mohammad with Queen Elizabeth II in the Royal Carriage at Ascot this year, and meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
