Saudi Crown Prince viral thank you gesture to Trump could soon be an emoji
Statements made by the U.S president Donald Trump regarding the Middle East, including lifting sanctions on Syria during his tour, caused quite the hubbub, but it was the stance taken by Mohammed bin Salman (Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince) that truly caught everyone’s attention.
Social media around the world exploded as MBS went viral recreating the gesture of placing hands on the chest, which in Saudi culture is regarded as an expression of gratitude towards Trump. This act spread like wildfire as people started posting images and videos emulating the gesture.
With this said, that same expression MBS did could become an emoji featuring his likeness, quite the social media phenomenon if I do say so myself.
Saudi’s Ali Al-Mutairi took the internet by storm after proposing a new design for an emoji: hands-on-chest symbol, based on the legs and torso of the Saudi Crown Prince.
In an interview where Al-Mutairi called out big social, he said, “this gesture remains popular nowadays, now used when someone wants to show humanity and extreme gratitude in many contexts.”
The proposed model now formally presented to the Unicode Consortium adds yet another emoji which goes without saying reflects the Eastern Gulf region while adorned in Saudi values of respect and gratitude.
He emphasised, “Emojis have already included numerous cultures like the Japanese kimono, Indian sari, and Russian matryoshka doll. Now it is the turn of Saudi and Gulf cultures to be embraced in this universal language.”
The proposal is now being reviewed by Unicode and has never-before-seen levels of engagement on social media. One of Al-Mutairi’s tweets pertaining to the emoji has racked up over 3.2 million views within 24 hours.
For Al-Mutairi, the design of this emoji is important for global accessibility. “This kind of project unites us all and we need to come together to ensure that our symbols and cultures are presented on international platforms in our language, with our signature style.”
People from all over Saudi Arabia, including Syrians and other Arabs, participated in videos and photos of the act, turning it into a widespread social media phenomenon.
Saudis, as well as other nationals, exemplified the pride in their leadership by posting videos and pictures of themselves doing the same thing, which is also Saudi pride and respect for the leadership. Even Syrians joined the celebration using the same gesture to celebrate the lifting of the sanctions on Syria and the support given by the Crown Prince.
The Royal Highness, Mohammed bin Salman's role in the lifting of restrictions on Syria was deeply revered by those accompanying him. As quoted by one of the Syrian expats residing in Sharjah, Basel Al-Hamwi,”The freedom of honoring injured civilians was a huge deal and the reason left us grateful almost everywhere around the globe,” Al-Hamwi's statement. “For us, this was everything,” in the conclusion he added.
"After enduring hardships for years, witnessing a regional figure like the Crown Prince actively support Syria rekindled our hope. It was more than a political stance; it was deeply personal, as though someone was finally seeing our suffering and trying to help us.”
Basel went on to emphasize that many Syrians interpret it as “a mark of deep commitment we will always remember,” adding that the viral hand-on-the-chest gesture epitomized the support finely.
Sociocultural identity
Crown Prince's gesture is one that goes beyond its primary interpretation and embodies the splendid hospitality that has, for long, been associated with Saudi Arabia. He said, “This kind of appreciation blended with human warmth was not mere action; it became a defining symbol, a gesture that was repeated by all who wished to be part of something special.”
The gesture sparked a shift in perception, with people from all age groups rapidly adopting and showcasing love and pride for their country and its leaders.
"As stated before the Crown Prince’s greeting is not just an action of the hands, instead, it is an expression of affection and togetherness, depicting the ways in which leaders can stir emotions in their people through brilliant simplicity that contains distinctive sentiments. Ever since this day, that greeting has evolved into an expression slogan encapsulating essence of the Kingdom and serves as a unifying identifier among descendants in a profound panorama vibrating with awe and belonging."
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