Dubai: It started as a simple dinner table conversation, but quickly turned into a memory of a lifetime for nine-year-old Roger Xie, whose meeting with His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, went viral last month.“You love Dubai … Dubai loves you back,” Sheikh Mohammed is seen telling the boy in heartwarming video.In an interview with Instagram channel ‘Emirates Loves China’, Xie spoke about what led to this now viral meeting with Sheikh Mohammed.“When the conflict had just started, I was having a meal with my parents. My parents mentioned that during such a very special time we are still able to live such a good life, such a normal life, because many people have made great efforts and sacrifices,” he said.The thought stayed with him.“I wanted to write a letter to thank one of the leaders of this country… to thank him for ensuring everyone’s safety,” he said.What the family did not expect was for that handwritten letter to eventually reach Sheikh Mohammed himself and lead to a personal invitation to meet the Ruler of Dubai.Just a regular letterIn the video, Xie’s father recalled how they just wanted to be supportive of their son’s idea.“As parents, we felt that since our child had this idea, we should help him fulfil his wish,” he explained.After Xie carefully wrote the letter himself, the family searched online for a mailing address. His father then went to Dubai Mall, found an Aramex branch, and sent it through regular post.There was no expectation of a response, but about a month later, the family received a call from the Dubai Ruler’s Office.“At that moment, I was extremely surprised because after sending the letter we didn’t expect to receive a reply,” Xie’s mother recalled.“It made us believe that Dubai is a city full of warmth. One that cares about everyone’s voice,” she said.‘You are the future of the UAE’While the meeting itself went viral, what struck Xie the most was how approachable Sheikh Mohammed appeared to be, despite being one of the most recognisable leaders in the world.“My feeling is that this leader is not as serious and distant as we see on TV. He is very kind and approachable. So, when I met him, I wasn’t nervous at all,” he says in the video.The gifts from Sheikh Mohamed – the hand-crafted UAE flag and his book ‘Stories from Life’ – were special, but what stayed with Xie the most was a comment by the Ruler: “He told me that I am the future of the UAE.”Those words, Xie said, have inspired him to aim higher. “I felt very encouraged. When I grow up, I also want to take part in making the UAE an even better country,” he said.An enduring lesson Another moment that left a deep impact on the nine-year-old was seeing Sheikh Mohammed personally sign the copy of his book to Xie, calling him a friend.Xie spoke about how he went on to read the book, particularly mentioning a part where Sheikh Mohammed wrote a letter to his grandchildren.“In the letter, he wrote that although they came from a good family, go to good schools and live a very comfortable life, they still have to work very hard. Because among them many future leaders of the UAE will emerge,” Xie said.‘Dubai welcomes people from all over the world’For Xie, the experience reinforced what he already loves most about the UAE.“What I most want to say about Dubai is that it is a very diverse city and welcomes people from all over the world,” he said.“I can learn about the cultures between many countries.”The exchange between Xie and Sheikh Mohammed, as well as his recounting of the encounter are just another reminder of why Dubai holds a special place in the hearts of people who call it home.
