Mohammed bin Rashid Library celebrated the birthday of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, through a cultural and artistic programme that drew a large audience of visitors and enthusiasts from diverse nationalities and age groups.
The evening featured a comprehensive cultural and artistic programme inspired by His Highness's literary, intellectual, and humanitarian legacy, shining a light on his journey as a leader, poet, and architect of renaissance. It also highlighted his ambitious vision, which has helped cement Dubai's status as a global model for innovation, development, and future-making.
The event opened with His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, inaugurating the art exhibition "Dubai Through the Eyes of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid", in which more than 70 male and female artists — both UAE nationals and residents — representing diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds participated.
The exhibition depicted the journey of urban transformation led by His Highness, through a collection of paintings and artworks inspired by his development vision. It showcased the most prominent strategic projects that have shaped modern Dubai and entrenched its standing as a global hub for innovation and development, foremost among them the Burj Khalifa, Palm Island, and Emirates airline.
The event also hosted a poetry evening entitled "Poems from the Desert", in which poets Karim Maatouq, Hamda Al Murr, and Najat Al Dhaheri participated.
The speakers presented aspects of the poetic experience of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum through critical readings and selected verses from his poetry collection, which is considered one of his most distinguished literary works.
The evening also paused to reflect on the human and patriotic values that pulse through the poems of the collection, and what they reflect of pride in Emirati identity and the embodiment of authenticity and belonging.
The programme concluded with a musical evening entitled "Poems Set to Song", performed by Emirati artist Tariq Al Manhalي, who presented a selection of poems by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in a lyrical format, reflecting the richness of His Highness's poetic experience, the beauty of his verse, and the distinction of his place in the national cultural scene.