Moscow – Russia, 31 August, 2019: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the 3rd edition of Aqdar World Summit in Moscow, taking place in conjunction with Moscow Global Forum City for Education’ until the 1st of September, under the theme Global Empowerment of Communities: Experiences and Lessons Learned’ continued with a top focus on The Role of Advanced Sciences and Future Projects in Empowering and Improving the Well-Being of Communities’. The 4-day pivotal annual global summit bringing together the best minds in the world is focusing on the most pressing issues facing individuals and communities and ways to empower and enable them to face their current and future challenges.

On the third day of the Aqdar World Summit in Moscow, Her Excellency Sarah bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, addressed her topic UAE Empowerment for Future and Advanced Sciences: Challenges and Success Factors’ and said, The UAE has a pioneering experience in enabling scientific research and advanced science, embodying the UAE's directions to promote investment in modern science and technology to find innovative solutions to future challenges in various development sectors based on a comprehensive leadership vision that embraces the development of the scientific research sector as a key driver for sustainable growth and knowledge based economy .

She added, Aqdar World Summit plays a pivotal role in promoting the utilization of science and scientific research, empowering societies in the educational, cultural, intellectual and technological fields, and stimulating governments to design effective policies and strategies that promote scientific research and the use of technology and employs them to create a better future. .
H.E. pointed out the importance of studies and research in advanced sciences and its practical applications that can be transformed into a reality that affects individuals and communities in their daily lives.

She concluded: The Summit is an opportunity to introduce the UAE's efforts in the field of advanced sciences and future industry through initiatives and programs that contribute to the advancement of scientific research and support the competencies and expertise that participate in enhancing the country's competitiveness globally.

While speaking about her topic, Re-Engineering the Community to Empower its Individuals’, Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development’ said, The importance of Aqdar World Summit to be held in Moscow, stems from the visions and experiences bringing together people from all over the world. Those ideas and perceptions are highlighted through the discussion sessions and highly reveal the visions of the Ministry of Community Development and Sustainable Development.

H.E. Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid stated, For us, the participation of leading experts and speakers from around the world, with their ideas and experiences on empowering communities and individuals, and the presence of a number of public and private brands and companies in the exhibition accompanying the summit is a development demand and a cognitive incentive to exchange experiences and expertise in the field of "empowering communities globally" and sustainable development of the UAE in solid ground.

Commenting on the Ministry of Community Development’s strategy H.E. said, The Ministry of Community Development sought to achieve care and development with numerous efforts, initiatives, policies, projects and qualitative laws that would enhance and strengthen family stability and community cohesion under sustainable development. Recently, the Ministry has initiated several national policies to improve the lives of families, Senior Emiratis, People of Determination and members of the community in general.

Her Excellency added, To achieve the best policies and developmental initiatives, the Ministry has also initiated communication channels with Senior Emiratis, younger generations and People of Determination through taking their opinions and suggestions and providing the best for their future. As such, the Ministry came up with policies, legislations, resolutions and several initiatives that promote family empowerment and stability.

Her Excellency further mentioned, It is important here to note some of the influential decisions such as: changing the title of people with disabilities to People of Determination , and elderly people to Senior Emiratis. Such diversified initiatives, policies and quality projects enhanced the confidence of the community, family stability and the happiness of the society.

Her Excellency went on saying, To preserve the quality of life for all family members, the National Policy of Senior Emiratis and the executive regulations of the Child Rights Law Wadeema , the national policy for empowering the People of Determination, the recruitment policy of people of determination and the national policy for family, were launched to embody the visions of a cohesive community and coherent families in order to achieve the best life for Emirati Citizens and the nation.

Her Excellency stressed, Before launching the national policy for Senior Emiratis and changing the title of Senior Citizens’ into Senior Emiratis’ in the UAE, we were determined to create such experiences and came up with qualitative development ideas. The Ministry of Community Development initiated partnerships and perspectives to be achieved based on interactive visions. Several meeting sessions are organized under the name of Meeting Generations taking into consideration the aspirations of Senior Emiratis, their family needs and requirements coinciding with the century changes and developments surrounding them. The result was a new realistic and vibrant policy that is appropriate to the UAE’s vision 2021 and keeps pace with the ambitions and aspirations of the UAE to be one of the best countries of the world by the UAE centennial ceremony in 2071.

Her Excellency concluded, This experience, for example, is debatable and can be circulated for beneficial results. It is possible to hold workshops in Russia with the same interactive development approach, ensuring the best possible results and benefiting from the latest global experiences and practices. It is also possible to select the appropriate experiences of community care in Russia and explore the possibilities of applying the successful sustainable development ideas in the UAE, in order to consolidate the vision of Aqdar World Summit towards global empowerment of communities.

During his keynote speech about his topic Renewable Energy Economy in the UAE’, H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, said, "Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, we are pleased to participate in the Aqdar World Summit in Moscow, Russia under the theme "Global Empowerment of Communities: Experiences and Lessons Learned" to highlight the UAE’s experience in clean energy, its development and growth prospects in the region and around the world, as we continue our relentless endeavors to achieve the vision of our wise leadership and the UAE Centennial 2071; to make the UAE the world’s leading nation, ensuring sustainable development and the happiness of our nation."

Aqdar World Summit – Workshop Program

On the third day, the Aqdar World Summit in Moscow played host to a number of key workshop sessions and panel discussions focusing on many diverse and highly-specialized topics related to the empowerment of individuals in various key fields and sectors. While the Dubai Center for Islamic Banking and Finance was involved in a panel discussion on Islamic Banking and Finance: Influential Presence That Cannot be Denied’, a key workshop was held by Emirates Driving Company on the topic Modern Training Technology and its Role in Improving Road Safety’. In addition, Hedaya International Center discussed a very important topic under the title Countering Extremism’ during a key panel discussion.

Additionally, while Consultants HSS held a key panel discussion on Strategic Partnership Program to Achieve the Projects’, Tabarak Investment was involved in a key panel discussion on Mutual Investment Opportunities between the UAE and Russia. In one more workshop, Teachers Training Institute – Ministry of Education addressed the topic Teachers Quality Assurance Framework’, while another workshop was conducted by Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and it featured a key discussion on the topic The Role of Worship Sites in Enhancing Coexistence and
Tolerance; Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as A Global Model’. In conclusion, another panel discussion led by Federal Youth Authority focused on Economic Diplomacy’.

On his part, Prof. Nabil Baydoun, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University, Dubai, spoke during a workshop session titled Islamic Banking and Finance: Influential Presence That Cannot be Denied’ and stated, Our understanding of Islamic finance has improved immeasurably since the latter part of the twentieth century. So much so that countries where Islam is not the main religion would recognize its potential significance, trillions of dollars earmarked as Islamic finance potential capital, and should be used to address the current funding gap in today’s business environment.

Prof. Nabil Baydoun added, The Islamic Finance target market, first in terms of population is estimated at 1.8 billion or 24% of the world population and expected to reach 2.2bln by 2030 and 3 Bln or 70% by 2060. 62% of population is below 30, compared to 51% globally, 40% in North America 43% in China. This relatively young population is becoming increasingly assertive in its Islamic sensitivities in the marketplace to products including food, banking, and finance extending all the way to fashion, cosmetics, travel and healthcare, and this is where the opportunity lies.

While speaking on his workshop. Prof. Nabil continued, This workshop not only addressed the key aspects of Islamic finance, it also provided detailed and comprehensive analysis of its major areas with the primary focus on the practical application and use of products in the global Islamic finance markets. Several Islamic financial products were also introduced including: Murabaha (profit sharing with cooperation), Ijara (leasing), Mudaraba, (Investment Partnership, Wakala (agency), and Sukuk (Islamic bonds), which is the most widely talked and written about subject in Islamic finance. This fascinating workshop also probed the intersection of Islamic finance, ethics, and financial crisis, and I am highly confident that it generated deeper questions and conversations amongst the participants.

Prof. Nabil further commented, Islamic Finance is playing a growing significance in today’s global business environment; more than 1000 institutions in 75 countries are now offering Islamic finance services. The Islamic finance industry was estimated to be worth US$2.4 trillion in 2017 and forecasted to grow to reach US$3.8 trillion by 2023. Islamic finance emphasis on asset-backed financing and risk-sharing feature means it could fund SME and infrastructure projects.

He concluded: Islamic Finance poses less systemic risk than conventional finance because it is based on risk sharing and prohibition of speculation. Islamic Finance does not only provide an opportunity for Russia and other countries to access the Middle East market, but given the its size it should be used to address the current funding gap in today’s business environment.

In another panel discussion involving Hedaya International Center and held under the topic Countering Extremism’, H.E. Maqsoud Kruse, Executive Director of HEDAYA International Center, said, The workshop aims at providing a panoramic overview of cutting edge global good practices in countering extremism in all its forms and manifestations. Hedayah developed a three years strategy in which it focuses on five main themes: Developing National CVE Strategies and National Action Plans, Counter-Messaging and Counter-Narrative, Role of Education, Community Engagement; and Disengagement, Deradicalization and Rehabilitation. This is conducted through capacity building programs, research and analysis; and dialogue and communication.

He added, The United Arab Emirates acknowledges that extremists will not be defeated by military force alone. More holistic approaches are needed, including disrupting the recruitment process; and, halting the spread of hate and promotion of violence via the web and social media. Prevention of extremism begins with promoting a culture of peace, compassion, tolerance and inclusion to counter the misleading messages spread by extremist groups, especially through social media platforms. This can be accomplished through focusing on building the future, disseminating success stories that gives hope to young people.

Commenting on a workshop conducted by Teachers Training Institute- Ministry of Education under the title, Teachers Quality Assurance Framework’, Khawla Ahmed Al Hosani, Director of the Teacher Training Institute said, The topic is about the system we follow to assure the quality of teacher performance through training. I described the process of attracting teachers, recruiting, training, qualifying, and preparing them to get the teacher license. I also provided an outline of the training programs they get.

Khawla Ahmed Al Hosani added, Teacher training is obligatory. It is designed based on the ADDIE design. Training is evaluated for effectiveness and impact. Training programs are customized to teachers 'needs, and are delivered either face-to-face or virtually (online). Teachers are required to complete 100 training hours per academic year.

Khawla Ahmed continued, The quality of education is one of the strategic goals in vision 2021. All our training programs lead to the fulfillment of these goals. Teacher training programs go through evaluation in terms of content and delivery. We prepare a core team (certified trainers) to deliver and cascade high quality training. Each training program undergo systematic follow-up to measure its impact.

Commenting on his participation in a workshop entitled The Role of Worship Sites in Enhancing Coexistence and Tolerance, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque as a Global Model , H.E. Dr. Yousif Abdulla Majid Al Obeidli, Director General, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre, said: Our participation was based on the vision and mission of the founding father, who intended for the mosque to be one of the most prominent bridges of cultural rapprochement , a platform for global dialogue that promotes rapprochement between different civilizations and cultures, and a leading forum advocating tolerance and coexistence between cultures and religions worldwide. That indeed is what we attempted to highlight during our workshop, The late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as result of his wise vision and benevolent and philanthropic nature ; realized the significance of human values in building nations and civilizations, and hence perused tolerance as a basis for building a country which peacefully coexists to achieve current and future prosperity and growth, and a place where more than 200 nationalities of different religions and cultures peacefully live togther in harmony.

He added: In the workshop we elaborated on how Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center , since its establishment in 1996, has assumed its civic duties consisting in spreading the message of peace and openness towards the other, as a main tributary to establish channels of Civilizational Dialogue, and create opportunities for rapprochement between cultures, especially through the privileged position the mosque occupies on the cultural and religious tourism map both regional and worldwide, and its status as a leading destination that attracts millions of visitors from within the country and abroad of different cultures and religions worldwide.

Running parallel to the conference, the Aqdar World Summit exhibition offered leading companies and institutions from various fields and sectors in the UAE a great opportunity to showcase their services and engage with visitors, participants and delegates.

Furthermore, an exclusive B2B platform on the sidelines of the Aqdar World Summit in Moscow provided companies a dedicated zone to conduct face to face meetings and collaborate with the best brands and companies in Russia. Moreover, considering the reach of participating exhibitors from various sectors, the B2B meeting space greatly helped in business expansion and strengthening partnership opportunities.

Additionally, youth circle sessions not only allowed youth to speak about their biggest concerns and challenges facing them but also allowed them to share new experiences and learnings during many brainstorming sessions at the summit. The summit also featured a number of entertainment and local folklore performances featuring Emirati artists and performers, which showcased the rich UAE culture and heritage to audiences from Russia and other countries.

It is worth mentioning that Aqdar World Summit is organized by Khalifa Empowerment Program Aqdar in cooperation with INDEX Conferences Exhibitions – a member of INDEX Holding and the support of a number of local and international bodies.