UAE leaders, Imran Khan among world's most influential Muslims

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have been ranked among the most influential Muslims in the world.

The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan, in its annual publication of the World's 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2019, ranked Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Egyptian footballer Mohammed Salah, Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik, boxer Khabib Nurmagomedov, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, Islamic scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel, Islamic scholar Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Azim Premji of India's Wipro Limited, Salman Iqbal of Pakistan's ARY Digital Network, and a number of other leaders, scholars and personalities from other walks of life on the list.

The study highlighted Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's vision to make Dubai a business destination.

"To that end, he helped develop the Palm Islands, Burj Al Arab Hotel, Burj Khalifa, the Dubai World Cup and the Godolphin Stables. He has also launched multiple charity initiatives from Dubai, such as Dubai Cares, which has reached over 18 million beneficiaries in 53 countries since its inception in 2007," the study said.

It highlighted Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's role and initiatives as well in political and military leadership, economic development, humanitarian works and sustainable development and environment conservation.

"Sheikh Mohamed has been recognized for his groundbreaking initiatives as an influential leader of Abu Dhabi. As Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohamed's directives were central to the Arab coalition military campaigns against Houthi strongholds in Yemen," the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre in Jordan said in its annual publication of the World's 500 Most Influential Muslims.

Under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mohamed, the study noted that the Abu Dhabi Council for Economic Development has been developing initiatives to boost entrepreneurship among youth in the UAE.

The think tank praised Sheikh Mohamed's humanitarian contribution, saying "he has donated billions of dollars to various causes, including Dh55 million to the UN Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking and purchasing vaccines in Pakistan and Afghanistan."

"Sheikh Mohamed has been a champion of sustainable development in Abu Dhabi as an advocate for the implementation of green technologies. He pledged $15 billion for the development of clean energy through solar, wind and hydrogen power. He is also a keen falconer and is committed to protecting falcons and other species in the region," the think tank said in its annual report.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com