HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid asked us to thank him, and these iconic structures are doing just that.

Today might mark HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s accession day, but it’s the face of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan which lit up the Dubai sky last night.

An image of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi was projected on both the Burj Khalifa and the Burl Al Arab on Wednesday, following Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s call for UAE residents to send their thanks to the royal.

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“As we do every year, we issued out instructions not to allocate celebratory events on the accession day anniversary that falls on January 4,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, posted on his social media pages this week.

“We usually launch a campaign to thank those who had impact on our lives and in serving the nation.

“Today, we urge our Emirati people to thank Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed who devoted his life to raising the stature of the nation and ensuring the happiness of citizens.”

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, who is celebrating 12 years since rising to his current position on January 4, added that “few people know that HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed works 18 hours a day for the UAE” in an open letter.

“Few people know that his annual leave does not exceed a week, and few people know that millions of children around the world are benefiting from his generosity and giving, which he does without fuss, and few people see him awake at night, sitting with our soldiers and reviewing development plans, to ensure a better future for our country in the years to come.”

Among the institutions answering the royal’s call was the Burj Al Arab, as well as the Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police, which both paid tribute to the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s call to action has spurned the hashtag #شكرا_محمد_بن_زايد, which translates to #ThankYouMohammedBinZayed, with many sharing their gratitude to the royal across multiple social media platforms.

In the wake of the campaign, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed responded in a series of tweets praising the ruler of Dubai.

“Mohammed bin Rashid is a brother, teacher, inspiring leader and partner in the development process. Our nation is proud of you. Your values and talent inspire all Emiratis. From your approach, we learn the values of giving and life wisdom,” wrote Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince.

“Together, we will prove to the world that the impossible is possible and that our nation deserves our sacrifices. We will create a model of optimism that sets our homeland where it should be. I congratulate you on being a leader to be proud of.”

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Last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid announced the launch of the UAE Food Bank around his accession day, a programme which will distribute leftover produce to those in need at both a local and regional level.