Mohammed attends World Islamic Economic Forum in Dubai

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday attended the morning session of the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum being held at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

Accompanying Sheikh Mohammed were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

Organised by the WIEF Foundation in collaboration with Dubai Chamber and Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, the three-day forum
attracted local, regional and international participations.

Also present at the forum were Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chief Executive of Emirates Group Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Cabinet Affairs Minister and Chairman of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Director of Dubai Ruler's Court Mohammed Abdullah Al Shebani, managers and heads of government departments, institutions, and a total of nine heads of state, ministers, central bank governors and about 2,500 delegates.

Sheikh Mohammed then visited the exhibition organised on the sidelines of the forum to inspect projects and programmes run for the various initiatives by the participating countries to implement the Islamic economic system and aiming to explore opportunities available to attract foreign investments and business partners.

Concluding his visit, Sheikh Mohammed stopped at the pavilion of Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University and browsed their latest ‘smart learning’ technologies.

Mohammed launches world’s first online EMBA in Islamic banking and finance

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, led the launching of the world’s first online Executive Master's in Business Administration (EMBA) in Islamic Banking and Finance at Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre’s stand during the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum.

The academic programme was designed by the Dubai Centre for Islamic Banking and Finance (DCIBF) of Hamdan Bin Mohammad Smart University (HBMSU) in co-operation with Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC).

The announcement was made at the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum and was done in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of HBMSU and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

The launch was also attended by Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Chairman of the  Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre; Essa Kazim, Governor of Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and Secretary General of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC); Mansoor Al Awar, HBMSU Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Unesco Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE); Dr. Joseph A. Planell, UOC President; Abdullah Mohammad Al Awar, CEO of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre; and Prof. Nabil Baydoun, Assistant Chancellor of HBMSU’s Enterprise and University Advancement and DCIBF CEO.

The EMBA helps reinforce Dubai’s efforts to transform itself into the capital of the global Islamic economy in line with the grand vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The EMBA is the first online academic programme on Islamic economy to be delivered by a European university.

The launching was followed by a special press conference attended by Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, HBMSU Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Unesco Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE); Dr. Joseph A. Planell, UOC President; Abdullah Mohammad Al Awar, CEO of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre; and Prof. Nabil Baydoun, Assistant Chancellor of HBMSU’s Enterprise and University Advancement and DCIBF CEO.

The EMBA supports the ongoing efforts aimed at meeting the needs of Islamic banking and finance industry. The programme is based on a model that focuses on providing learners with the latest knowledge and best practices in various areas related to the thriving Islamic economy.

Launched by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and HBMSU President, the online EMBA falls in line with the directives and vision of the emirate’s leaders aimed at offering academic programmes that promote human capital development, research, and community service.

Mohammad Abdulla Al Gergawi said, "The demand of the rapidly growing industry is increasing, thus, all stakeholders and industry leaders must gather together to discuss the sector’s phenomenal expansion. This year’s forum is the perfect venue to talk about promising opportunities and industry challenges so we can come up with effective solutions and initiatives. The discussions will be an added value to our intensified efforts to position Dubai as the capital of the global Islamic economy in line with the directives of Sheikh Mohammed ."

Al Gergawi added, "We also commend Dubai Centre for Islamic Banking and Finance and the UOC for their collaborative efforts to develop the comprehensive Executive MBA in Islamic Banking and Finance. The programme will help produce a generation of professionals capable of meeting local, regional and global needs and requirements. We hope to see similar cooperation in the future among academic institutions to equip our current and future generation with world-class skills and knowledge that will make them globally competitive."

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar said, "We are delighted to participate in the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum, which is an ideal platform for us to launch our first-of-its-kind Executive MBA programme in Islamic Banking and Finance a new course offering that reflects our continued efforts in providing quality education and research works in order to contribute to human capital development efforts in the Islamic Banking and Finance industry."

Al Awar added, "We developed the new programme in cooperation with UOC, which is the first European university to offer a specialised academic programme in Islamic Banking and Finance. The fruitful collaboration between UOC and HBMSU has paved the way to integrate our cultures, processes, methodologies and different learning styles to ensure the highest levels of quality and excellence. Our ultimate goal is to produce high-calibre professionals equipped with the technical skills and knowledge needed to excel in the specialised field of Islamic finance."

Dr. Joseph A. Planell said, "The degree is our response to the growing global interest in Islamic finance and banking. It specifically targets finance professionals who wish to increase their knowledge and proficiency in the field and also individuals who aspire to make their mark in the industry.  By enrolling in our Executive MBA programme, learners will undergo rigorous training in Islamic finance, banking, economics and law. They will also gain an in-depth understanding of strategic management, leadership, international business, and marketing. For our part, our collaboration with HBMSU, as well as our participation in the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum, falls in line with our 2014-2020 Strategic Plan, particularly covering our mission to promote a better understanding of Islamic culture and to internationalise our programmes."

The Dubai Centre for Islamic Banking and Finance will be participating in the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum through the Islamic Banking and Finance ‘Dubai: the Capital of Islamic Economy’ stand. This is part of the move to highlight the thriving Islamic finance sector and growing business opportunities in the Arab region.

The 10th World Islamic Economic Forum is taking place amidst a rapidly growing Islamic finance industry. The industry’s current size is approaching $ 1 trillion and is expected to reach $4 trillion by 2020.

More than 350 Islamic banks and financial institutions currently operate in over 60 countries around the world. The forum is an ideal platform to promote communication between the high-profile participants who comprise government personalities, diplomats, top-level leaders, decision makers and experts from the global economic arena.

Mohammed receives Bangladesh and Kazakhstan Presidents and Luxembourg PM

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday received separately the Presidents of Bangladesh and Kazakhstan and the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, who were participating in the World Islamic Economic Forum in its tenth session.

Present at the meetings were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

On the sidelines of the forum, Sheikh Mohammed met Mohammed Abdul Hamid, President of the Republic of Bangladesh, where he exchanged talks on the forum and the future of the Islamic economy in the light of the UAE's attention and support for this sector at regional and global levels.

During the meeting, the President of Bangladesh commended the vision of his Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for the future of this vital sector and the establishment of the Dubai Islamic Centre for the Development of the Islamic Economy, which translates the vision of Sheikh Mohammed on the ground, and the dissemination and consolidation of an Islamic economy culture applicable in many countries of the world, including the UAE, which is considered a leader in this field.

President Abdul Hamid reviewed the available potential in the country to attract investment, expressing his and his government desire to encourage private sector companies and businessmen in the U.A.E. to build investment partnerships with Bangladesh, noting Dubai's experience in infrastructure development, especially in ports, financial markets, road networks and tourism cities.

He expressed his country's desire to benefit from the expertise of Dubai and its experience in organising and hosting international conferences and exhibitions.

Sheikh Mohammed also met with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

During the meeting, they discussed the existing bilateral relations between the UAE and Kazakhstan, especially in areas of air transport, economy and investment, as well as in the exchange of expertise.

President Nazarbayev noted that his country looks forward to benefitting from Dubai's experience in organising international conferences and exhibitions, congratulating the UAE on Dubai's winning bid to host Expo 2020. 

The Kazakhstan President hailed the cultural progress being witnessed by the UAE, referring to Dubai, which he described as a model of civilised cities which is constantly evolving.

In the presence of Sheikh Mohammed, the Kazakhstan President received the Global Leadership Award in Islamic Finance in 2014 from the Global Islamic Finance Awards Foundation.

President Nursultan Nazarbayev extended an official invitation to Sheikh Mohammed to visit Kazakhstan and Sheikh Mohammed accepted it, thanking him and promising to visit the country at a convenient time.

Later, Sheikh Mohammed met with Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg's Prime Minister, where they exchanged talks on the importance of the Islamic economy and the role of Islamic banks in achieving global economic growth and the role of the UAE in general and Dubai in particular in the development of this sector and its assistance to countries wishing to apply this system.

Luxembourg's Prime Minister commended the modern cultural organisation of Dubai city, its infrastructure and its qualified human resources experience in development, modernisation and the conversion of the city to a Smart City, referring in this context to the directives and visions of Sheikh Mohammed for the future of his country and his keen interest that the UAE people be happy and turn his vision to reality.
 
Sheikh Mohammed welcomed the three leaders and wished them a pleasure stay in the UAE.

During the meetings, Sheikh Mohammed said that the state is keen to establish good and balanced relations with all countries and peoples of the world based on mutual respect and shared benefits, cultural and tourism exchanges, to serve peace and consolidate the culture of peaceful coexistence and human harmony between Emirati people and the peoples and cultures of the world.

The meetings with the Presidents were attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group,  Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dubai Centre for Developing Islamic Economy, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of the Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai Ports, Customs and Free Zones in Dubai, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, Hamad Buamim, Director-General of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The meeting with the Prime Minister of Luxembourg was attended by Suleiman Hamed Salem Al Mazroui, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium and Non-Resident Ambassador to Luxembourg, along with Nicole Bintner, Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

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