Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed congratulated Oman and the UAE on fraternal spirit, true sportsmanship that “decorated the closing of the Gulf Cup”.
“For the win is one, and together we have won the affection, love and pleasure of high competition,” the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said.
مبروك للإمارات وعمان هذه الروح الأخوية والرياضية الصادقة التي زينت نهائي كأس الخليج، فالفوز واحد، و كسبنا معا المودة والمحبة ومتعة التنافس الرفيع
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) January 5, 2018
He congratulated the Sultanate of Oman and the winning team for their high performance and thanked the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah, for hosting the final.
شكرا أمير الكويت على احتضان قلبك الكبير بحب ومودة العرس الخليجي ونجاح تنظيمه .. وتحية لشعب الكويت الشقيق الذي رسم لوحات من المحبة لأشقائهم في الخليج
— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) January 5, 2018
As Omanis took to the streets on Friday night to celebrate their Gulf Cup Victory in Kuwait, Emiratis congratulated Omanis on social media.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid extended praised the leadership and “fantastic performance of Omani youth” on Twitter.
مبروك لسلطنة عمان قيادة وشعبا كأس الخليج ٢٣ .. أداء رائع من الشباب العُماني .. ومشاعر راقية رأيناها من اخواننا الشعب العُماني .. ومحبة متبادلة لن تزيدها الأيام الا رسوخًا.. الكأس لعمان .. والفرحة للشعبين الشقيقين.. pic.twitter.com/YmWyBytmC1
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) January 5, 2018
The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai had launched this weekend’s trending Arabic hashtag, “Oman UAE One Win”, sparking a conversation about the economic and family ties binding the countries.
“We are not just neighbours but your people,” wrote user @Alialyafai0. If you look, most of our UAE tribes are here in Oman and, also, we’ve married them and they married us. Oman and UAE are one.”
Twitter users responded to the Dubai Ruler's tweet with videos and photographs of UEA Rulers alongside Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said.
One Heart 🇴🇲❤️🇦🇪. #عمان_الإمارات_الفوز_واحد pic.twitter.com/NlcSyNTv6G
— 🥀 (@IIIIXYXIIII) January 4, 2018
Images included vintage photos of the Sultan with the UAE's Founding Father Sheikh Zayed.
#عمان_الامارات_الفوز_واحد pic.twitter.com/gga82lm5cq
— ﮼شيخه 🕊 (@m_shaikha87) January 4, 2018
Many used the hashtag to express the close kinship shared between the two countries in marriage, military and economy.
“I tell you with pride, my father was employed by the UAE military nearly 28 years, loved them and they loved him and the sincerity in his work and honour,” tweeted s1999.
“My sister in law is one of the first Emarati [sic] pilots, my cousins and half the family are UAE citizens, we have blood relations in the UAE... we are one family” tweeted Munira Al Balushi @FirstLadyOman.
My sister in law is one of the first Emarati pilots , my cousins and half the family are UAE citizens , we have blood relations in the UAE ... we are one family #عمان_الامارات_الفوز_واحد
— منيرة البلوشي (@FirstLadyOman) January 4, 2018
“The response of Omanis and Emiratis here is the most beautiful responses on Twitter, showing the deep love and fraternity between the people,” wrote Oman-based user @hingool7.
The hashtag also attracted the attention of high profile politicians, such as Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, chair of Oman’s Majlis Al Shura. Who tweeted images of the UAE's Rulers with Sultan Qaboos bin Said. He listed the hashtags being used - we are all brothers, one khaleej, one win, one future - adding that he agreed with them all.
نعم #عمان_الامارات_الفوز_واحد
— خالد بن هلال المعولي (@maawali_k) January 4, 2018
نعم #خليجنا_واحد
نعم #مصيرنا_واحد
نعم #نبض_واحد
نعم #كلنا_أخوه pic.twitter.com/xHMaGF2XEM
Little wonder then that Omanis and Emiratis were seen cheering for each other in the stands during the final.
#عمان_الامارات_الفوز_واحد pic.twitter.com/Yaooszy41n
— نورة بنت محمد الكعبي (@NouraAlKaabi) January 5, 2018
It is not the first time that a national celebration is shared by both.
On National Day in Oman, some motorists decorate their cars with images of Sultan Qaboos and Sheikh Zayed. In 2014, when the Sultan was undergoing medical treatment in Germany, Emiratis put his image on their vehicles for the UAE's National Day parade.
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