Dubai’s Crown Prince, Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, widely known as Fazza, recently celebrated a deeply personal milestone that captured hearts across the UAE and beyond: the third birthday of his son, Mohammed. Rather than a simple photo or brief family moment, Sheikh Hamdan chose to share a touching video montage that chronicled his son’s journey from infancy to toddlerhood, blending private joy with a public tribute that quickly resonated with millions online.Shared on his Instagram account, which boasts over 17 million followers, the montage uses soft light, intimate clips and family memories to create a narrative unlike typical social-media birthday posts. It begins with the early fragility of newborn life, transitions into lively toddler moments and ends with tender interactions between Mohammed and his extended royal family, including a touching clip of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, embracing his grandson.
From tiny feet to toddler wonder: Sheikh Hamdan’s montage that stirred the Internet
What makes this birthday video stand out is not just that it documents a child growing up but how it tells the story. Through carefully selected moments of tiny hands grasping, first footsteps, soft smiles and family embraces, the montage becomes a powerful reminder of time’s passage and the universal experience of watching a child grow. While many celebrities post birthday photos, Sheikh Hamdan’s choice of a “journey through time” video signalled a deeper emotional thread that has captivated followers well beyond the UAE.This is not the Crown Prince’s first heartfelt family post on social media. In past years, he has shared affectionate birthday tributes for his twins, Sheikha and Rashid, marking their birthdays with adorable videos and photos that drew applause from followers but this latest tribute took that personal storytelling to a new level by blending royal family life with artistic expression in a way that felt deeply human. For many viewers, it was a rare glimpse into the intimate life of one of the Middle East’s most public figures.Sheikh Hamdan is a celebrated poet, adventurer and social-media personality who consistently uses his platform to highlight both personal life and societal initiatives and this birthday post fits perfectly with that pattern. The video allowed many followers to see him not only as a business leader and government figure but as a father and a family man, sharing the same pride and wonder any parent feels watching their child grow up. That universal theme helped make the video go viral, sparking comments, likes, and shares from Dubai residents, UAE nationals and international audiences alike.
Sheikh Hamdan’s digital storytelling as cultural expression
Social media has become a space where leaders shape narratives about identity, values and society. Sheikh Hamdan’s birthday post was not just a series of cute clips, it was a crafted story that conveyed something universal: the beauty of life’s fleeting moments. In a world saturated with snapshots, full montage videos like this stand out for their emotional depth and cinematic quality.The way the video was constructed with light, pacing and thematic continuity made it feel almost like a personal documentary, something that resonates deeply in today’s digital culture of storytelling and shared experiences. In the Gulf and across the Middle East, leaders are increasingly using digital platforms to connect with the public on a personal level by sharing moments that humanise their profiles and forge deeper bonds with communities. Sheikh Hamdan’s Instagram account, for instance, regularly features snapshots from his hobbies (such as equestrian pursuits, adventure sports and poetry), public service engagements and personal milestones.This blend of lifestyle, personal narrative and official messaging reflects a modern form of leadership communication that resonates strongly with younger demographics, especially those who engage heavily on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The Mohammed birthday video, with its emotional narrative arc and artistic style, fits exactly into this new era of relatable leadership storytelling.
Who is Mohammed and what’s next for the young prince?
Baby Mohammed was born on February 25, 2023 and his birth was announced by Sheikh Hamdan through a heartfelt Instagram Story that featured a touching image of tiny feet cradled in loving hands. The post instantly drew congratulations and warm wishes from followers. He is the third child of Sheikh Hamdan and his wife, Sheikha Shaikha bint Saeed Al Maktoum, the younger sibling to twins Rashid and Sheikha, born in May 2021 and the older sibling to a younger sister, Sheikha Hind, born in March 2025.Growing up in one of the UAE’s most prominent families, Mohammed will undoubtedly attract public interest as he ages but this early birthday tribute underscores not only his cherished place in the family but also the affection and cultural pride his father places on family life, heritage and continuity.While his birthday video celebrates a specific milestone, it also offers a larger commentary on the nature of time, family and memory. In digital storytelling, we are often reminded of how quickly children grow and how fleeting early years can be. It is a message that many parents, regardless of background or culture, deeply connect with. By framing his son’s third birthday as a “journey through time,” Sheikh Hamdan elevated a personal moment into a shared reflection on love, family bonds and life’s rhythm, inviting audiences around the world to pause, remember and appreciate what truly matters.Sheikh Hamdan marked his son Mohammed’s third birthday with a heartfelt Instagram video montage that went viral online. The video captured Mohammed’s growth from newborn to lively toddler, with touching family moments including his grandfather, the UAE Ruler. The emotional storytelling instantly went viral as it resonated globally by blending personal family joy with digital culture and relatability and reflects a modern trend of leaders engaging audiences through personal narrative and digital multimedia.
