The Crown Prince of Dubai has paid tribute to the “brave heroes” fighting on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.
In an open letter released on Wednesday, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed thanked all those involved in the UAE’s response to the outbreak.
He described healthcare workers and others involved in the effort as “today’s finest soldiers” who had put society’s safety before their own.
He claimed their ongoing "selflessness" showed enormous courage, redefining the meaning of "service and sacrifice".
“My dear brothers and sisters, the brave heroes at the frontline,” he wrote. “In our desperate times, you rose to the challenge.
“Armed with your selflessness, you've redefined the meaning of service and sacrifice. Your courage has built an invincible fortress protecting our society.
"You are today's finest soldiers, the barrier between us and the pandemic. We cannot thank you enough for your spirit that protects our nation.
"Thank you for putting our safety before yours. You have set an example for the heroes to come.
"Your sacrifice is inspiring, humbling, and a legacy that our history will remember forever.
"With God's grace, we will get through these times. And together, we will emerge stronger and more determined to continue our journey of shaping the future."
Earlier this month, Sheikh Hamdan described Dubai's economic fortunes as "taking off again," sending an optimistic message to the world that it had "weathered the storm".
The emirate, which imposed some of the strictest controls across the UAE to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the earliest days of the pandemic, is beginning to return to normal.
Businesses, malls and many entertainment venues are once again operating at 100 per cent capacity, with social distancing and other precautions designed to restrict the spread of the virus still in place.
