Daughter of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid pays emotional tribute to father

Sheikha Hissa shares pictures of herself and Sheikh Hamdan on Twitter as the Crown Prince of Dubai shares his own tribute

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Chairman of Dubai Aluminium Company inaugurates DUBAL's twenty-five year anniversary celebrations in Dubai on January 9, 2005. Sheikh Hamdan died on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. Reuters

Chard Hills and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after winning The Coronation Stakes with Ghanaati at the Royal Ascot. The popularity of horseracing in the UAE is widely attributed to Sheikh Hamdan.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid signs an inauguration document at the opening ceremony of the largest power production and water desalination plant in the UAE, in Dubai, on April 8, 2013. Sarah Dea / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid pictured at the Meydan Racecourse with winner of the 1,200m race, Muarrab, and rider Paul Hanagan in March 5, 2016. Pawan Singh / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid is presented with the Dubai World Cup trophy in 2015 after Prince Bishop won the showpiece race. Pawan Singh / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid speaks at the opening session of the Annual Meetings of the Arab Financial Institutions and the Fourth Meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers of Finance on April 2, 2013. Razan Alzayani / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid greets Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, during an iftar reception at Mushrif Palace on July 1, 2014. With them is Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, speaks with Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid during an Eid Al Adha reception at Mushrif Palace on September 2, 2017. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, attend a wedding at then Armed Forces Officers Club on March 23, 2016. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid distributes the Distinguished Student Awards at Dubai International Convention Centre on April 8, 2008. Jeffrey E. Biteng / The National

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid, attend a UAE Cabinet meeting at Wahat Al Karama on March 5, 2017. Ryan Carter / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid greets Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, during an Eid Al Adha reception at Mushrif Palace on August 11, 2019. Eissa Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid attend the Determination Retreat, at the Presidential Palace on March 10, 2019. Also present are Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid and Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid presents an award to Mohammed Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Deputy Governor of the UAE Central Bank, on March 11, 2019. Victor Besa / The National

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed on the death of Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed at Al Mushrif Palace on November 21, 2019. Rashed Al Mansoori / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid offers condolences to Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed on the death of Sheikh Sultan, at Al Mushrif Palace on November 21, 2019. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid with his father, Sheikh Rashid, and brother Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 1963

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid attends the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and the Dubai Solar Show 2020 virtually on October 26, 2020. Courtesy Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid offers condolences to Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed on the death of Sheikh Sultan, at Al Mushrif Palace on November 21, 2019. Hamad Al Mansoori for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation and Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, attend the final day of the 2019 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, at Shams Tower. Ryan Carter for the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid, who became Ruler of Dubai in 1958, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, then Crown Prince of Dubai, attend Eid al Fitr prayers.

Saudi Finance Minister Ibrahim Al Assaf is greeted by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid after arriving in Abu Dhabi to attend a GCC finance ministers' meeting on May 7, 2011. AFP

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid opens the 27th edition of Gitex in Dubai on September 8, 2007. Bloomberg

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid speaks to his Saudi counterpart Ibrahim Al Assaf ahead of a GCC finance ministers' meeting in Abu Dhabi on September 7, 2011. Reuters

The daughter of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid paid an emotional tribute to her father, who died this week, on social media.

Sharing four photos of herself and Sheikh Hamdan on Twitter, Sheikha Hissa said: “People lost a father. I lost my best friend.”

The images show the pair together at various stages of their lives and paint a sweet picture of a loving relationship.

On March 24, after the announcement of Sheikh Hamdan's death, she tweeted: “My beloved father is with God.”

Reacting to a video montage of Sheikh Hamdan, who was an avid fan of horse racing, on Racing TV, the grieving daughter wrote: “I couldn’t hold back my tears the moment I saw his watch.”

In another post, Sheikha Hissa shared an image of her three brothers at their father's funeral calling on God to "strengthen their hearts".

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, shared his own tribute on Friday, posting a video montage of his namesake.

It showed images of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid throughout his life, including when he was sworn into his government positions.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid's death was announced on Wednesday by his younger brother, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

He was the Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

A mourning period of 10 days was declared in Dubai.

Flags are being flown at half-staff in Dubai and for three days since Thursday work is suspended in government departments and institutions.

Funeral prayers were led by Sheikh Mohammed at Zabeel Mosque the same day, when he was joined by his son, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, among other members of the royal family and dignitaries.

Sheikha Hissa is the Goodwill Ambassador for the Gulf Region and the author of Tajaarub: From a Horsewoman's Journey, which speaks of the powerful connection between people and horses.

She also supports Voices of Future Generations for the Middle East Region, a Unesco initiative that allows children aged between eight and 12 to share adventure stories on how to create a sustainable future and combat climate change.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid is laid to rest in Dubai