Shaikh Mohammed calls for more cultural initiatives

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, received national literary men and cultural personalities at Za’beel Palace on Monday evening.

The meeting was held in the presence of Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

The guests greeted Shaikh Mohammed on the last ten days of the holy month of Ramadan and wished him longevity and good health and the UAE’s continuous progress, stability and prosperity.

Shaikh Mohammed and his guests exchanged talks on a number of cultural, national and heritage-related issues and ways to entrench national identity among the UAE society through various cultural activities.

Shaikh Mohammed praised the outstanding cultural development in the UAE spearheaded by activities launched by Hamdan bin Mohammed Heritage Center and other cultural establishments. His Highness also lauded the launch of several cultural initiatives and urged cultural figures and literary people to take more initiatives and encourage young people to take their part to familiarise them with the heritage of their fathers and grandfathers.

Shaikh Mohammed pointed to the UAE Space Agency, considering it as a new challenge to UAE citizens and national competencies to build Emirati technical and intellectual capabilities in the fields of aerospace and space exploration and to enter the space industry and to make use of space technology in a way that enhances the country’s development plans.

Shaikh Mohammed’s guests expressed thanks and loyalty to the UAE leadership for the support and encouragement it gives to the cultural movement in the country.

Shaikh Mohammed hosted an Iftar banquet in honour of his guests after performing Maghrib prayers.

The meeting was also attended by Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs; Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority; Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality; and a number of senior officials.

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