Royals and rulers from around the world have shared messages wishing their online followers a Happy New Year.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales, reflected on 2023, while Queen Rania of Jordan shared her hopes for peace in 2024.
Here, The National rounds up the highlights.
Sheikh Hamdan
Sheikh Hamdan has shared some of his highlights from 2023 on Instagram. In one post, he collected six images from the past year, including a photograph of his father, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with his newborn baby Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan; a holiday photo with his twins Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan and Sheikha Shaikha bint Hamdan; and an image with his father and brother, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The collage also features a skiing selfie, a shot with one of his prized horses and a picture of him completing last month's Dubai Run with Team Angel Wolf's Nick and Rio Watson.
In a second story, Sheikh Hamdan shared a photo of himself in the wintery Bad Ragaz, Switzerland.
As the clocks turned midnight, Sheikh Hamdan shared a video of the dazzling fireworks display at Dubai's Burj Khalifa.
"As we welcome the new year, we pray to Allah for a year of prosperity for our nation and the world. With the combined enthusiasm and determination of a united team, we will harness our capabilities and aspirations to attain greater accomplishments across all sectors," Sheikh Hamdan wrote.
"With unwavering confidence, we stride forward towards a brighter future, aspiring to establish Dubai and the UAE as a shining model of spreading joy and positivity to all."
Queen Rania and Crown Prince Hussein
Queen Rania of Jordan shared a message on Instagram reflecting on the war in Gaza.
"It's impossible to 'celebrate' the New Year knowing that it will start the same way this year ends; with unfathomable suffering in Gaza," she wrote. "2023 has cast a dark shadow on our collective humanity – we realised that some lives are seemingly expendable; that international laws and principles are privileges for some, not rights for all.
"But amidst this darkness, 2023 has also shone a bright light on thousands of acts of resilience, faith, heroism and sacrifice."
She concluded her message on a hopeful note, writing: "I choose to put my faith in this light. I choose to believe in the power of human goodness. Praying that the Year Year brings peace to us all."
Queen Rania's son, Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah of Jordan, posed an Instagram Reel of footage of destruction in Gaza last year, with the caption, "Every day, Gaza teaches the world."
Prince and Princess of Wales
Britain's Prince and Princess of Wales shared a video of their highlights of the year, thanking everyone who had played a part.
The video includes formal footage from the coronation of King Charles III; a shot of the prince and princess at the wedding of Jordan's Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah and Princess Rajwa Al Saif in June; and images of the royals at various engagements.
It also includes relaxed family pictures with their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei
Prince Abdul Mateen ibni Hassanal Bolkiah, son of Brunei's Prime Minster and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, wished his Instagram followers "all the best for 2024".
The prince, 32, announced his engagement to long-term girlfriend Anisha Rosnah in October, with the wedding scheduled for this month. Rosnah is beside her fiance in the Instagram post.
The couple's wedding is expected to be a 10-day event, which will begin on January 7 and will include numerous ceremonies, including a royal powdering ceremony, an Islamic ceremony at the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and a royal parade around the nation's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
King and Queen of Bhutan
Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema shared a New Year's message, with a photo of themselves in traditional dress, with their three children.
"Wishing everyone a Happy New Year," the message reads, "May 2024 bring love, peace and happiness to all."
The couple are parents to Jigme Namgyel, Crown Prince of Bhutan, seven; Jigme Ugyen, three; and three-month-old daughter, Sonam Yangden. The family announced Sonam Yangden's name on December 9, explaining, "Sonam is a Bhutanese name denoting merit, longevity and good fortune. The name Yangden, meaning precious jewel, signifies prosperity and wellbeing."
