Two of the UAE's Rulers Casually Met On A Park Bench To Discuss National Issues

How many other world leaders would hold their meetings outside in the fresh air?

Let’s play a word association game. We say politics, and you probably think of stuffy conference rooms, intimidating debate chambers, and a whole lot of serious people in suits.

But they like to do things a little differently in the UAE, as new pictures of the nation’s leaders show.

Over the weekend, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, met with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Where did these two powerful men decide to meet? On a park bench.

A post shared by Khalifa Saeed (@khalifasaeed) on Apr 1, 2017 at 5:21am PDT

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Sitting under the shade of some trees, the two Sheikh Mohammeds reportedly discussed a number of national issues related to overall development, the culture of giving, tolerance, and means of spreading happiness among UAE citizens.

Here’s a video released by the Emirates News Agency of the pair enjoying a pleasant chat:

They were joined by HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, and Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State.

The park bench meeting was also something of a family affair. The Dubai ruler’s daughter, Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, shared photos of the event on her Instagram account, with the caption: “My #family”.