Mohammed receives UK Foreign Minister

Mohammed bin Rashid and William Hague (WAM) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received last evening at Zabeel Palace William Hague, British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. During the meeting which was attended by Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, they discussed the historic ties of friendship between the UAE and the UK and ways to enhance them. Sheikh Mohammed and Hague also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues. Present were Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of Emirates Group, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of Dubai Ruler's Court, Khalifa Sulaiman, Director General of Dubai Protocol and Hospitality Department, Dominic Jeremy, British Ambassador, and members of the delegation accompanying the British Secretary of State. Mohammed issues statement on Godolphin's stables in Newmarket His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum issued the following statement: "I was appalled and angered to learn that one of our stables in Newmarket has violated Godolphin's ethical standards and the rules of British racing. I have been involved in British horse racing for 30 years and have deep respect for its traditions and rules. "I built my country based on the same solid principles. There can be no excuse for any deliberate violation. Godolphin is fully cooperating with the British Horseracing Authority to get to the bottom of this matter and take any appropriate disciplinary action. "I have ordered the Godolphin management to undertake an immediate review of our internal procedures and controls to ensure to prevent any re-occurrence of this type of activity in any stables of mine. "We will be locking down the Moulton Paddocks stables with immediate effect, and I have instructed that I want a full round of blood samples, and dope testing done on every single horse on that premises. "I can assure the racing public that no horse will run from that yard this season until I have been absolutely assured by my team that the entire yard is completely clean. "I have worked hard to ensure that Godolphin deserves its reputation for integrity and sportsmanship, and I have reiterated to all Godolphin employees that I will not tolerate this type of behaviour." Mohammed visits Art4Sight exhibition 2013 Mohammed visits the Art4Sight exhibition 2013 (WAM) His Highness Sheikh Mohammed visited the 2013 Art4Sight charity art event hosted by Noor Dubai at Za'abeel Ladies Club in Dubai yesterday. Sheikh Mohammed toured the exhibition which displays about 42 art paintings by Emirati, Arab and foreign artists who donated them to Noor Dubai which delivers preventive eye care in different poor countries to combat blindness and help eye patients regain their sight. Expressing admiration at the exhibition, Sheikh Mohammed stressed that art plays an influential humanitarian role in the public life and in helping people in the various fields. Sheikh Mohammed praised the artists' initiatives and contributions to Noor Dubai to enable it to carry out its humanitarian role of treating people suffering from blindness in the Third World Countries. Sheikh Mohammed also toured the various sections of Za'abeel Ladies Club. He was accompanied by Art and Culture Authority Chairman Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Noor Dubai Essa Al Maidoor, Chairman of the Emirates Human Rights Association Abdul Ghaffar Hussain, CEO of the Noor Dubai Foundation and member of its Board of Trustees Dr Manal Taryam, a number of artists and participants in the exhibition who briefed Sheikh Mohammed on their paintings which will be sold at an auction tomorrow. All the proceeds from the auction will be used to carry out prevention of blindness programmes.