DUBAI: The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Jan.23, received Aga Khan IV, Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed and Aga Khan exchanged views on a number of humanitarian issues and ways of boosting cooperation and coordination between the Aga Khan Foundation, AKF, and the humanitarian and charitable foundations in the country to encourage development work in poor countries and help people in need.

Aga Khan praised the volume of humanitarian and charitable assistance provided by the UAE to disadvantaged areas and underprivileged people in many countries of the world, especially in Africa and Asia.

He also expressed his thanks and appreciation to Sheikh Mohammed for the care, tolerance and equality to the Ismaili community and other segments of the UAE society without any distinction between race, religion, or color, making the UAE an honourable example of coexistence, harmony, as well as social and economic stability.

Patriarch John X

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Jan.23, received His Beatitude John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and his accompanying delegation, at Zabeel Palace.

Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, was present.

During the meeting, Patriarch John X expressed his thanks and appreciation to Sheik Mohammed for the facilities granted by the UAE to the Christian communities and their followers, who live in the UAE community in peace, security, and are fully free to practice their religious rites like others.

Patriarch John X also praised the cultural and humanitarian achievements of the UAE people, as part of the country’s leadership keenness to provide a safe and dignified life to its people and the bring happiness to its citizens and society in general.

He also lauded the good reputation enjoyed by the UAE in the global financial, economic, political and religious circles thanks to the balanced policy pursued by the leadership and the government in this respect.

“Our country welcomes all those who seek security, stability and happiness whether to live, invest or work. All are equal under the cloak of the law. We, as a leadership, government, people or institutions, have no discrimination between nationality or culture, and we have about 200 nationalities living in our society, happily and equal in duties and rights,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

Zanzibari President

The Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, today received the President of Zanzibar, Dr. Ali Mohamed Shein, and his accompanying delegation, at Zabeel Palace.

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed welcomed President Shein and discussed with him a number of issues of mutual interest, especially trade exchange, economic cooperation, as well as building bilateral partnerships and investments, especially in tourism, culture and infrastructure.

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, were present.

President Shein expressed his satisfaction and appreciation for the vital role played by Emirates Airline and flydubai in encouraging tourism in his country through regular weekly flights between Dubai and Zanzibar, which had helped revive the tourism sector in his country.

Noting the importance of the tourism sector in his country, he said that he hoped to attract UAE public and private capital to invest in Zanzibari tourism, culture and infrastructure. All the necessary means and logistical facilities would be available for UAE investors, he said.

The meeting was attended by  Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chief Executive of Emirates Group and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation. It was also attended by Reem Bint Ibrahim Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, Zaki Nusseibeh, Minister of State, and Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General of the Dubai Protocol and Hospitality Department.