As 15 July marks the 71st birthday of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and ruler of Dubai, people of the country have been expressing their gratitude towards him for his invaluable contribution to the UAE’s progress and development. Emirati artist Abdulrauf Khalfan is one of them, who has created a portrait of HH Sheikh Mohammed made entirely of gold.

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The stunning artwork and its style have been inspired by the works of iconic artists such as Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali. “This pandemic has shown how the rulers are taking care of the country,”said Khalfan in a statement to The National. “I feel proud of my country, my rulers and the medical workers who have helped in this time. We are blessed to live in this country.”

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Abdulrauf used pipes as his canvas, layering them with gold leaf to bring the portrait to life, which took 12 days to complete. The portrait features HH Sheikh Mohammed wearing a hat, which we’ve seen him adorn ruler during racing events.

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The artist has also created exquisite artworks of other members of the royal family, including HH Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed and HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai. Among his most famous works is the ‘Win, Victory and Love’ series, which features the three finger national hand gesture, created with vivid brushstrokes.

Cover image credit: @abdulrauf.khalfan