Under the auspices of his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation, launched the tenth annual FIKR conference in Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, Dubai. The event brought together entrepreneurs, officials, decision-makers, academics, intellectuals and a wide array of media figures to discuss and shed light on the aftermath of the “Arab Spring”.
The General Director of the Arab Thought Foundation, Dr. Suleiman Abdel Muneim welcomed all participants and guests and invited His Royal Highness prince Khalid AlFaisal to take the floor.
Ms. Amel Salem, Emarati journalist, presented the ceremony and praised the Arab Thought Foundation for its achievements and the diversity of its aspects. She asserted that from Dubai “. The train of the Arab thought foundation takes off and tackling the issue ” Arab Spring What’s Next?”
Ms. Salem presented Dr. Suleiman Abdel Muneim to deliver his speech.
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid AlFaisal acknowledged and thanked the United Arab Emirates and its president, His Royal Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed AlNahyan. He also thanked his Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai for hosting FIKR10.
His Royal Highness Prince Khalid AlFaisal reiterated that, ever since its establishment, the Arab Thought Foundation has always addressed -top of the hour- topics taking place in the Arab world. ATF objectively joins different Arab points of view under one intellectual free umbrella, preparing the best platform for a civilized scientific dialogue where they study the case, analyze motifs and estimate the aftermath.
His Royal Highness explained how the Arab Thought foundation was alerted of the inevitable change that is to come. He also emphasized that this change is in our hands and not in anyone else’s. During a speech he ‘delivered in the opening ceremony of FIKR3 in 2004, His Royal Highness said “nobody denies that change is an inevitable necessity and changing the present just for the sake of changing is a failed project”. The real change aims to improve the reality, refine human beings and takes them closer to heights of excellence. This aim looks at culture as the only approach to a practical and scientific activism, believing that joining cultures is the driving force behind the wheel of human civilization.
The Vice President for Business service – ARAMCO-KSA, Mr. Abdel Rahman Bin Fahed AlWahib also delivered a speech praising the Arab Thought Foundation “It is a primary pillar of awareness in the Arab world” and ” going back to the history of the Foundation, I see that ATF realized special achievements and it always focused on the Arab dream and the Arab rising youth as if it is forecasting the future and realizing the effective role of youth in its changes and development.”
In recognition of a life defined by generosity and giving, the Arab Thought Foundation gave the Lifetime Achievement Award to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai.
FIKR10 will be held on 3 consecutive days, 5-6-7 of December 2011. It will include different sessions where different speakers will participate to discuss their points of view and exchange ideas as well as share impressive experiences.
The sessions are as follows:
Day 1
First session: Why Spring in Winter?
Second session: Economic Challenges
Day 2
3rd session: The State
4th Session: Arabs, the neighborhood and the world
5th Session: Is there a spring for culture?
Day 3:
6th session: Women, Youth and Cyberspace
7th session: What is after Spring?
About Arab Thought Foundation
The Arab Thought Foundation is an international, independent and non-profit foundation that has no affiliation with political regimes, or factional or sectarian trends. It is a joint initiative between thought and money to promote the nation’s constant pride, principles, values and ethics with responsible freedom approach. ATF is involved in various fields of knowledge of science, medicine, economics, administration, media and literature in efforts to unify the intellectual and cultural aspects, which also calls for Arab solidarity and the promotion and preservation of identity.
