
Watch: UAE President spots childhood teacher in crowded hall, greets him in heartwarming gesture
It was a heartwarming moment of humility that took place earlier this week, when the UAE President was seen taking a moment to specially greet his childhood professor at a gathering hosted during the holy month of Ramadan.
In what was clearly an unexpected moment for the professor, Ahmed Ibrahim Mandi Al Tamimi, Sheikh Mohamed was seen getting up from the opposite side of the room and walking past a room full of attendees to meet his teacher after recognising him.
In a video shared by Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the nation's leader can be seen embracing his educator and speaking with him before returning back to this seat.
"This is how the elders teach us lessons every day," the official captioned the post.
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The Ruler received the Federal National Council delegation, along with a number of officials and guests during the gathering.
This is not the first time that the leader met with his teacher. Back in 2017, Sheikh Mohamed visited Al Tamimi's home in Khalifa City, where he was seen endearingly holding his teacher's hand and sharing a laugh with him.
In October last year, on the occasion of World's Teacher's Day, the leader praised the work done by educators in the country and thanked them for their "dedicated service to the nation".
"World Teachers' Day is an opportunity to recognise the vital role played by teachers in nurturing the next generation and inspiring young minds. Education remains a foundation of the UAE's ongoing progress, with teachers at the heart of this vision, and we thank them for their dedicated service to our nation," Sheikh Mohamed said on October 5.
Highlighting the value of educators and education in the country, the Ruler had declared February 28 as Emirati Day for Education in 2024. The date was chosen as it was the day when late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's Founding Father, witnessed the graduation of the first batch of teachers from UAE University in 1982.
Honouring contributions
In another instance of recognising contributions, the UAE President presented Dubai's Ruler with the Emirates International Holy Quran Award – Personality of the Year for 2025 on Tuesday.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, was named as the first-ever recipient of the award as he was recognised for his outstanding contributions to the Holy Quran and its reciters both locally and globally.
The UAE President was joined by leaders of the seven emirates at an iftar at Al Khawaneej farm, a historic venue that had been used by Emirates' founding father to discuss the country's formation with other rulers. The leader shared a picture from March 1971 of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan at the farm.
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