Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared his highlights from 2023 in an Instagram post. Photo: Instagram / faz3
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared his highlights from 2023 in an Instagram post. Photo: Instagram / faz3
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared his highlights from 2023 in an Instagram post. Photo: Instagram / faz3
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared his highlights from 2023 in an Instagram post. Photo: Instagram / faz3

New Year messages from world's royals and rulers, from Sheikh Hamdan to Queen Rania


Farah Andrews
  • English
  • Arabic

Royals and rulers from around the world have shared messages wishing their online followers a Happy New Year.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales, reflected on 2023, while Queen Rania of Jordan shared her hopes for peace in 2024.

Here, The National rounds up the highlights.

Sheikh Hamdan

Sheikh Hamdan shared some of his highlights of 2023 on Instagram. Photo: @Faz3 / Instagram
Sheikh Hamdan shared some of his highlights of 2023 on Instagram. Photo: @Faz3 / Instagram

Sheikh Hamdan has shared some of his highlights from 2023 on Instagram. In one post, he collected six images from the past year, including a photograph of his father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with his newborn baby Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan; a holiday photo with his twins Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan and Sheikha Shaikha bint Hamdan; and an image with his father and brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

The collage also features a skiing selfie, a shot with one of his prized horses and a picture of him completing last month's Dubai Run with Team Angel Wolf's Nick and Rio Watson.

In a second story, Sheikh Hamdan shared a photo of himself in the wintery Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.

As the clocks turned midnight, Sheikh Hamdan shared a video of the dazzling fireworks display at Dubai's Burj Khalifa.

"As we welcome the new year, we pray to Allah for a year of prosperity for our nation and the world. With the combined enthusiasm and determination of a united team, we will harness our capabilities and aspirations to attain greater accomplishments across all sectors," Sheikh Hamdan wrote.

"With unwavering confidence, we stride forward towards a brighter future, aspiring to establish Dubai and the UAE as a shining model of spreading joy and positivity to all."

Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein

Queen Rania, centre, with her son, Crown Prince Hussein, and Princess Rajwa of Jordan. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court
Queen Rania, centre, with her son, Crown Prince Hussein, and Princess Rajwa of Jordan. Photo: Royal Hashemite Court

Queen Rania of Jordan shared a message on Instagram reflecting on the war in Gaza.

"It's impossible to 'celebrate' the New Year knowing that it will start the same way this year ends; with unfathomable suffering in Gaza," she wrote. "2023 has cast a dark shadow on our collective humanity – we realised that some lives are seemingly expendable; that international laws and principles are privileges for some, not rights for all.

"But amidst this darkness, 2023 has also shone a bright light on thousands of acts of resilience, faith, heroism and sacrifice."

She concluded her message on a hopeful note, writing: "I choose to put my faith in this light. I choose to believe in the power of human goodness. Praying that the Year Year brings peace to us all."

Queen Rania's son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah of Jordan, posed an Instagram Reel of footage of destruction in Gaza last year, with the caption, "Every day, Gaza teaches the world."

Prince and Princess of Wales

Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales shared a video of their highlights of the year, thanking everyone who had played a part.

The video includes formal footage from the coronation of King Charles III; a shot of the prince and princess at the wedding of Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Princess Rajwa Al Saif in June; and images of the royals at various engagements.

It also includes relaxed family pictures with their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.

Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei

Prince Abdul Mateen ibni Hassanal Bolkiah, son of Brunei's Prime Minster and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, wished his Instagram followers "all the best for 2024".

The prince, 32, announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Anisha Rosnah in October, with the wedding scheduled for this month. Rosnah is beside her fiance in the Instagram post.

The couple's wedding is expected to be a 10-day event, which will begin on January 7 and will include numerous ceremonies, including a royal powdering ceremony, an Islamic ceremony at the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and a royal parade around the nation's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

King and Queen of Bhutan

Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema shared a New Year's message, with a photo of themselves in traditional dress, with their three children.

"Wishing everyone a Happy New Year," the message reads, "May 2024 bring love, peace and happiness to all."

The couple are parents to Jigme Namgyel, Crown Prince of Bhutan, seven; Jigme Ugyen, three; and three-month-old daughter, Sonam Yangden. The family announced Sonam Yangden's name on December 9, explaining, "Sonam is a Bhutanese name denoting merit, longevity and good fortune. The name Yangden, meaning precious jewel, signifies prosperity and wellbeing."

Jewel of the Expo 2020

252 projectors installed on Al Wasl dome

13.6km of steel used in the structure that makes it equal in length to 16 Burj Khalifas

550 tonnes of moulded steel were raised last year to cap the dome

724,000 cubic metres is the space it encloses

Stands taller than the leaning tower of Pisa

Steel trellis dome is one of the largest single structures on site

The size of 16 tennis courts and weighs as much as 500 elephants

Al Wasl means connection in Arabic

World’s largest 360-degree projection surface

What is an FTO Designation?

FTO designations impose immigration restrictions on members of the organisation simply by virtue of their membership and triggers a criminal prohibition on knowingly providing material support or resources to the designated organisation as well as asset freezes. 

It is a crime for a person in the United States or subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to or receive military-type training from or on behalf of a designated FTO.

Representatives and members of a designated FTO, if they are aliens, are inadmissible to and, in certain circumstances removable from, the United States.

Except as authorised by the Secretary of the Treasury, any US financial institution that becomes aware that it has possession of or control over funds in which an FTO or its agent has an interest must retain possession of or control over the funds and report the funds to the Treasury Department.

Source: US Department of State

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogenChromite: Hard, metallic mineral containing iron oxide and chromium oxideUltramafic rocks: Dark-coloured rocks rich in magnesium or iron with very low silica contentOphiolite: A section of the earth’s crust, which is oceanic in nature that has since been uplifted and exposed on landOlivine: A commonly occurring magnesium iron silicate mineral that derives its name for its olive-green yellow-green colour

When is VAR used?

Goals

Penalty decisions

Direct red-card incidents

Mistaken identity

MO
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LOVE%20AGAIN
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Dubai World Cup nominations

UAE: Thunder Snow/Saeed bin Suroor (trainer), North America/Satish Seemar, Drafted/Doug Watson, New Trails/Ahmad bin Harmash, Capezzano, Gronkowski, Axelrod, all trained by Salem bin Ghadayer

USA: Seeking The Soul/Dallas Stewart, Imperial Hunt/Luis Carvajal Jr, Audible/Todd Pletcher, Roy H/Peter Miller, Yoshida/William Mott, Promises Fulfilled/Dale Romans, Gunnevera/Antonio Sano, XY Jet/Jorge Navarro, Pavel/Doug O’Neill, Switzerland/Steve Asmussen.

Japan: Matera Sky/Hideyuki Mori, KT Brace/Haruki Sugiyama. Bahrain: Nine Below Zero/Fawzi Nass. Ireland: Tato Key/David Marnane. Hong Kong: Fight Hero/Me Tsui. South Korea: Dolkong/Simon Foster.

TOP%2010%20MOST%20POLLUTED%20CITIES
%3Cp%3E1.%20Bhiwadi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Ghaziabad%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Hotan%2C%20China%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Delhi%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Jaunpur%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Faisalabad%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20Noida%2C%20India%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Bahawalpur%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Peshawar%2C%20Pakistan%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Bagpat%2C%20India%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20IQAir%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Mica

Director: Ismael Ferroukhi

Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

3 stars

Tamkeen's offering
  • Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
  • Option 2: 50% across three years
  • Option 3: 30% across five years 
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Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):

Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE

Match will be shown on BeIN Sports

Day 2, stumps

Pakistan 482

Australia 30/0 (13 ov)

Australia trail by 452 runs with 10 wickets remaining in the innings

RACE CARD

5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,200m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 (PA) Listed Dh230,000 1,600m
6.30pm: HH The President’s Cup (PA) Group 1 Dh2.5million 2,200m
7pm: HH The President’s Cup (TB) Listed Dh380,000 1,400m
7.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh70,000 1,200m.

MATCH INFO

Champions League quarter-final, first leg

Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

Match on BeIN Sports

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Type 1 diabetes is a genetic and unavoidable condition, rather than the lifestyle-related type 2 diabetes.

It occurs mostly in people under 40 and a result of the pancreas failing to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugars.

Too much or too little blood sugar can result in an attack where sufferers lose consciousness in serious cases.

Being overweight or obese increases the chances of developing the more common type 2 diabetes.

Jordan cabinet changes

In

  • Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
  • Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
  • Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
  • Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
  • Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
  • Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth

Out

  • Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
  • Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
  • Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
  • Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
  • Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
  • Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
  • Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
  • Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
  • Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
  • Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
  • Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
  • Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
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Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed

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Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HyperPay%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202014%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Muhannad%20Ebwini%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Riyadh%2C%20Saudi%20Arabia%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20FinTech%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2455m%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20AB%20Ventures%2C%20Amwal%20Capital%2C%20INet%2C%20Mada%20VC%2C%20Mastercard%2C%20SVC%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UNSC Elections 2022-23

Seats open:

  • Two for Africa Group
  • One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
  • One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
  • One for Eastern Europe Group

Countries so far running: 

  • UAE
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Without Remorse

Directed by: Stefano Sollima

Starring: Michael B Jordan

4/5

ON%20TRACK
%3Cp%3EThe%20Dubai%20Metaverse%20Assembly%20will%20host%20three%20main%20tracks%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEducate%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Consists%20of%20more%20than%2010%20in-depth%20sessions%20on%20the%20metaverse%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInspire%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Will%20showcase%20use%20cases%20of%20the%20metaverse%20in%20tourism%2C%20logistics%2C%20retail%2C%20education%20and%20health%20care%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EContribute%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Workshops%20for%20metaverse%20foresight%20and%20use-case%20reviews%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites

The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.

It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.

“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.

The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Gulf Under 19s final

Dubai College A 50-12 Dubai College B

World Series

Game 1: Red Sox 8, Dodgers 4
Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)

* if needed

Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday

Updated: January 01, 2024, 7:25 AM