At the end of each year, Twitter highlights the key conversations which took place on the platform throughout the year. Hashtags, handles, Tweets and Emojis are all analyzed in order to shed light on the stories that have led the public conversation over this year.
In 2021, following the analysis of data, Twitter revealed that government-related topics were among the most popular conversations in the UAE. Driven by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (@HHShkMohd), who once again lead engaging Tweets, here is a glimpse of His Highness’s most liked Tweets throughout the year:
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s most engaged Tweets
- January: The year kicked off with a celebration of His Highness’s 15th Accession Day as Ruler of Dubai, as well as his 15th anniversary as Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE.
2. February: February saw the success of the UAE’s first mission to Mars, as the Hope Probe entered orbit on its first attempt.
The most liked Tweet in the UAE for 2021, the triumphant mission was also celebrated by NASA’s own Mars Rover, who congratulated the arrival with the words of poet Al Mutanabbi.
3. March: Following the passing of the United Arab Emirates finance minister and deputy ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum, His HIghness shared his condolences as he publicly mourned the loss of his companion.
4. April: In another first, His Highness shared that the first megawatt from the first Arab nuclear plant has entered the national power grid.
5. May: His Highness celebrated Eid Al-Fitr with the world, sharing his blessings for the future.
6. June: HH Sheikh Mohammed also continued his #LifeHasTaughtMe series, sharing his knowledge and experiences with the public, and the importance of growing together as a united community.
7. July: July also saw His Highness impart further insight with his followers, sharing his goals and the challenges faced in building a greater life for the future.
8. August: Highlighting the strength, and kindness of the community, His Highness shared a video of a cat rescued from an apartment building, calling for the details of the people involved to thank them for their actions.
9. September: As the UAE celebrated the opening of Expo2020, His Highness shared photos from the opening ceremony, welcoming the world to Dubai, and the UAE.
10. October: With the launch of one of the UAE’s largest events of the year, His Highness shared a behind-the-scenes look into his life, with a photo of his favourite encounter at Expo2020 this far. The young girl had been featured in a video upset at the fact she was unable to meet His Highness. After seeing the video, HH Sheikh Mohammed invited the 7-year-old to Al Wasl Plaza for an impromptu meet and greet, posing for photos with her, and turning her dreams into a reality.
11. November: Finally, His HIghness shared his congratulations with the UAE for the successful bid to become the hosts of one of the world’s most important global climate conferences, COP28, in 2023.
Most Engaged UAE Leader Tweets
The year also saw continued interest in Tweets from the wider UAE leadership. Here are some of the most liked leadership Tweets of the year:
- HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (@MohamedBinZayed), penned a heartfelt note for his mother on the occasion of International Mothers’ Day.
2. HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, (@HamdanMohammed), shared a heartwarming picture of his newborn twins
3. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation celebrates the successful mission to Mars.
4. HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, Deputy Ruler of Dubai (@MaktoumMohammed) thanked leadership for his appointment as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.
The most used event related hashtags
From celebrations of key milestones, through to regional cultural moments, here are the top event hashtags of 2021:
- #Expo2020
- #رمضان (Ramadan)
- #يوم_عرفه (Day of Arafah)
- #عام_الخمسين (Year of the 50th)
Most mentioned UAE leaders
- HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates (@HHShkMohd)
- HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi (@MohamedBinZayed)
- HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai (@HamdanMohammed)