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Leading figures to assess national identity issues

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai will open the two day conference on national identity in Abu Dhabi next week.

  • By Eman Mohammed, Abu Dhabi Deputy Editor
  • Published: 14:12 April 7, 2008
  • Gulf News

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai will open the two day conference on national identity in Abu Dhabi next week.

The two-day conference will commence on April 15 with an official opening ceremony and speech at the Emirates Palace by Shaikh Mohammad.

The conference is being hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development and it comes in line with President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's announcement to mark 2008 as National Identity Year, and in support of the federal strategy that aims to reinforce national efforts to protect and promote national identity," Afra Al Saberi, General Coordinator of the conference told a press conference yesterday.

She said, "Leading figures in the UAE will come together at the conference to establish factors that weaken national identity in the emirates and to develop solutions to preserve and strengthen national identity for the future."

More than 1,000 invitations have gone out to representatives of all federal ministries, members of the National Federal Council and UAE local departments, in addition to CEOs and senior management from large international corporations.

Bilal Al Budoor, Executive Manager for arts and culture told Gulf News that "discussing the visions and opinions of leading figures from different sectors will lead to forming laws that protect the national identity elements" pointing to the decision taken by the cabinet recently to consider Arabic the official language in the UAE.

Youth: Imparting a message

A programme to promote national identity was launched yesterday under the patronage of Shaikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, at a function held at the Ruler's Court.

The programme titled My Identity is My Country will focus on enhancing awareness about issues of national identity, especially among the country's youth, by introducing them to traditions and culture as well as equipping them with knowledge and skills to play a role in the implementation of the country's development strategy.

Speaking at the function, Shaikh Faisal Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Director of RAK Ruler's Court, said that the programme has been inspired by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's declaration to mark 2008 as National Identity Year. "We sincerely hope that the programme would achieve its objective of imparting the message of national identity."

- By Nasouh Nazzal, Staff Reporter

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