The hashtag ميلاد_أسد_الإمارات (meaning "birth of the lion of the Emirates") was a top trending topic in the UAE today because of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed's birthday.
Twitter users took to social media to wish the the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces a happy birthday and share tales of how the leader inspires them. We take a look at some of the best tweets in his honour.
Read more: 10 of our favourite Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed moments
Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, uploaded a photo of Sheikh Mohammed in a helicopter in which he tweeted "Sir... (every year) and we soar to the skies of greatness. And the pride, because glory knows its equal":
سيّدي .. ( كل عام ) ونحن بك نحلق في سماء العز والفخر .. لأن الـمجد يعرف يمينك . #محمد_بن_زايد pic.twitter.com/Gsj21a3sZr
— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) March 11, 2018
Maryam BinFahad, the Managing Director of Alfahad Media, also tweeted out her well-wishes:
كل عام وأنت فخرنا
— Maryam BinFahad 🇦🇪 (@MaryamBinFahad) March 11, 2018
#ميلاد_اسد_الامارات pic.twitter.com/Cqb6sgClFJ
As did Emirati author Sultan Al Ameemi:
#ميلاد_أسد_الإمارات
— سلطان العميمي (@alameemi) March 11, 2018
كل عام وأنت بخير يا سيدي.
كل عام والإمارات وأهلها بخير في ظل وجودك وقيادتك وحكمتك. pic.twitter.com/6c67NXUWHs
Saudi writer Mohammed Alkhaled also posted on social media:
كل عام وانت في قلوبنا يبو خالد 🇦🇪#ميلاد_اسد_الامارات pic.twitter.com/phdYO9wlIn
— محمد الخالد (@AlKhaled1899) March 11, 2018
While Emirati poet Mohamed Al Murr shared a poem inspired by Sheikh Mohammed:
إن حَدّك الوقت و أقصَتكْ السنين السود
— محمد المر (@almurrm) March 10, 2018
سنّد على اللي يذِلّ الصَعبْ و يهينه
سَنّد على الشامخ ..القَرمْ الكبير العود
بو خالد .. اللي يرفّ العزّ من عينه#ميلاد_اسد_الامارات pic.twitter.com/IloJgGA1V1
Other users celebrated by tweeting photos that showed him through the years, from young boy to current Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi:
Another user uploaded a video showing him visiting a children's hospital and commending his leadership, by writing: "May God give you long life father of Khaled, the Lion of the Emirates, our leader, our inspiration and the unifier of the people":
الله يطول عمر بو خالد
— عتيج سيف السويدي (@alsuwaidi_ae) March 11, 2018
أسد الامارات و معلمنا و ملهمنا و قائدنا و موحد الشعب #ميلاد_اسد_الامارات#محمد_بن_زايد pic.twitter.com/VJjK6NRJOV
Others expressed their gratitude towards him:
As well as calling him their "role model":
All in all, there was a lot of positivity on social media for the occasion. Happy birthday Sheikh Mohammed!