World Government Summit in 2017 : Call for the resumption of civilization ..
Hours separate us from the historic event, the World Summit for governments, it is a call for public innovations, an interactive forum on the local, regional and international level where the leaders of the Arab states, governments, and dignitaries from all over the world ,and officials and decision – makers will meet to exchange views and present their ideas, and a review of the best international practices on how to improve government services through innovative means.
A conference organized by Dubai annually since five years ago, to present the most important issues that contribute to the upgrading of the government work in the Arab region and the world, and explore of the future prospects in the various aspects of development in general, and to exchange views and ideas to come out with optimal solutions to the challenges of the future.
And participate in the grand event , held in the United Arab Emirates , from the period February 12 to 14 this -2017 about 4,000 regional and international figure within the delegations from 138 countries , 150 speakers in the 114 session , with the largest share of its kind since the launch of the first conference in 2013 .
The events of this year will witness an integrated agenda dedicated to international organizations taking place in a special headquarters of the sessions of international partners, where the United Nations will discuss the future of achievement of the goals of sustainable development while the international Bank will discuss the future of governments and education and the international Monetary Fund will address the future of digital transactions , and the organization for economic and development cooperation will address the future of innovation in governments
And Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid ruler of Dubai will present his experience and leadership calling for the Arab region, to mobilize their forces, and to resume the march of civilization, and it will be an open dialogue in order for everyone to participate in the launch of the slogan (the resumption of civilization), to start a genuine Arab dialogue, and development to discuss ideas and experiences in the area which is the cradle of civilizations of the world “.
The vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who will present it at the conference for the resumption of civilization in the Arab world, and re – shaping the future of the Arab region, and the resumption of its civilization, it will be very important, and a qualitative step that no one suggested it before it, to move from the civilized retreat to human progress, it does not prompt for an economic development theory, but he puts a real foundations to work, and suggest and exchange of ideas through linking of the historical heritage, particularly with regard to the future.
The resumption of civilization in the Arab region, means continuing an ancient civilization that the world is witnessing for it , and start working of it again after suspension and interruption.
Sheikh Mohammed will speak about his leading experience and his vision about the importance of the Arabs to change their outlook for the future, and the possibility of re – use of it in the Renaissance, and civilization of the Arab world; to take its true place in the world.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al – Maktoum , ruler of Dubai is characterized by simple personality , and its depth; which made him one of the most prominent figures on the global level, and his example in life , the Prophet Muhammad (p).
The ambition of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid is unlimited, do not stop at a certain point, he does not know the impossibility, always optimistic, with the will and determination in all spheres of life, his motto is always the first place and no substitute for No. 1 in the United Arab Emirates ,s dictionary and its approach , and enjoys international consensus on the success of his experience in leadership and management and governance, and he is characterized by the unique character not to despair of challenges.
And he has a clear imprint in the global humanitarian and development work, based on his belief in the possibility of change of the reality of the Arab world by changing the mechanism for humanitarian action in the region, with a human delicate sense , and transparent interaction with many of the humanitarian issues inside and outside the country.
For this, he has conducted of the coordination between the humanitarian, developmental and social initiatives launched over the past years, to maximize its impact and doubling its ambition and unite the goals and visions to commensurate with the challenges of the stage where our Arab world and the world as a whole are going through.
Among slogans of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: “man by man to support a friend and comrade and the one who turns his back on the pain of his brother , a man does not deserve the honor of belonging to the human beings.”
His realistic and practical experience is characterized by combining modernity and tradition , between the material upgrade while maintaining the values , heritage and national identity, and his wisdom in the administration, in establishing harmony and promote the values of equality and respect between cultures and under the legal and legislative umbrella, as it meets in the United Arab Emirates more than 200 nationalities live and work together without distinction of race, religion or sect.
And the concept of civilization for the ruler of Dubai, does not mean modern urbanization and industrial and technological development witnessed only recently by peoples, but also include the civilization of all the peoples who lived on the face of the earth from the start of creation, and were able to adapt to different social and environmental circumstances that surrounded them, and were able to withstand and survive among large groups of people for a long period of time, which contributed to the occurrence of evolution experienced by the human race now.
The concept of resumption means continuing of what has been started originally , referring to the non – contradiction of civilization under the pretext of modernity.
And the Islamic civilization has advanced special advantage , as engineers, scientists , and merchants of the Islamic world to contribute significantly to the fields of art, agriculture, economy, industry, literature, navigation, philosophy, science, technology and astronomy , by maintaining the previous contributions from construction and the addition of many inventions and innovations. And the creation of Muslim philosophers, poets, artists and scientists and princes and unique culture of its kind in turn influenced the societies on all continents.
Dubai , capital of the Islamic economy.
Dubai is a model and icon of success followed by the world and even the Western developed countries , and when Dubai to establish Dar-al-Hikmah to foresee the future, it recalls the civilization of the Arabs in Baghdad ‘s Al- Rasheed, and when it establishes the civilized Urbanism , it regains the glory of the Islamic and Arabic Al – Andalus , which was a beacon for science, and back again to grow strongly on the coast of Arabian Gulf , in the form enshrined in the United Arab Emirates.
Today , when Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Ruler of Dubai is calling Arab intellectuals to come with their new and creative ideas, in order to feed the idea of « the resumption of Arab and Islamic civilization» , which he confirms that it was the birthplace of the modern human civilizations, he prompts each one who has useful idea to work to return to what we deserve of the position and role towards all mankind, and certainly, it is essential that the role of the good and the building and development, as happened in Andalusia.
Sheikh Mohammed focuses , on sustainable development, which means the process of land, cities and communities develop, as well as business provided it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, the world is facing the seriousness of the environmental degradation that must be overcome with not to abandon the economic development needs as well as equality and social justice.
Ruler of Dubai sees that the Arab region needs the process of development of the land, cities and communities , provided that they meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations, stressing that: ” the wealth that is inexhaustible is the young minds and talents armed with science and knowledge, which is the basis of building of civilization and prosperity”, focusing on the more government support for the development of the new generation in the future to be characterized by leadership and lead.
And believes Sheikh, that one of the most important keys to stability and the good and welfare of the people is to improve the performance of governments to create an environment of man to be able to research and development, and improve performance in all sectors, to create human happiness and achieve his dreams to build his country properly.
He explains that there is a close relationship between education and sustainable development in all economic, social, environmental and cultural domains , the development can not to achieve its objectives only if a trained and qualified manpower will be available , so the education is the basis for sustainable development in the community.
Experts and specialists confirm that the management of Sustainable Development, is not only through educational institutions, especially the universities; and then activating the main functions of teaching, scientific research and community and students service who are able to meet the needs and requirements of society in all sectors.
In economic sustainability, to ensure an adequate supply of resources for construction, transportation systems and efficient use of it, as it aims to increase economic efficiency and growth and jobs in the formal sector.
Social sustainability focus on supporting small businesses and creating jobs for the poor majority in the informal sector, and ensuring access to adequate housing with the right price as well as sewage and transportation for the poor majority.
The aim of environmental sustainability to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources necessary for economic growth in the public and private sectors, and ensure the sustainable use of land , or ideal for lands , forests, energy and mineral resources.
A call for a new Andalus
The Al – Andalus embodied the achievements of civilization that came from and then added to it and developed, so we prepare a lesson and a model summarizes the civilization of a nation, started from the faith, and went by under the terms of enlightenment and positive, and the wideness of the human chest, which was confirmed by this civilization.
As do the Emirates today, the culture of Andalusia has been based on the generosity and openness , which have allowed them to benefit initially from the Greeks Sciences, and the efforts of Baghdad ‘s scholars and the Muslim Orient, it was not so long till it was independent intellectually and differentiated in the era of Abdel – Rahman Nasser , as it appeared after so many scientists, philosophers, historians such as Ibn Rushd and Ibn Zahr and Ibn Tufail and Ibn Baja and Abbas Ibn Firnas and Lisan – al-Din ibn al – Khatib and Ibn Khaldun.
And the rulers of Andalusia were working to take care of science and knowledge and educate the nation and seek that the Andalus to occupy a prominent place in the world, noting that they built the houses of books and established schools and libraries in each area and translated various books, and studied mathematical and astronomical, natural and medical sciences, and their efforts participated in the development of the science of medicine, which Medical culture of the West benefited so much from it; including what they had taken from Muslims in this field, and the Muslims are the first who had practiced the operations of surgery in the world at all, and wrote books of it .
This is the tip of the iceberg for a large legacy that we must resume , and the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum represents the vital start to stimulate movement toward the resumption of civilization in the Arab world to return to the leading position that it had been enjoyed.
“Vision 2021”.
To imagine this vision , we have to stand little at the achievements recorded in the record of the history of the State of Emirates that could be an example for the Arab States and the world.
Including the support by multiple ways, as has been supporting 23,000 of the pioneers of young businessman, and 3000 of the employment companies to provide jobs for more than 160 000 people and leaders were trained for the 155 – governmental organizations from around the world , and support by billion dirham to create an integrated environmentment for creators .
The achievements of today realized in the UAE did not come from a vacuum, but is the fruit of unremitting efforts and the love and the affiliation of its sons seen by the state, and what the country has witnessed of stability, supporting the cultural renaissance and move society to the global prospects, and to achieve the well – being for the UAE and work with enlightened thinking to achieve goals and provide a decent life for it, and to achieve the ambition of the UAE to become the number one in all the world ‘s governments.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Ruler of Dubai explains the importance of education, noting that in an important statistic, it has been shown that out of every five people in the world , there is one illiterate person , which means that 17% of the world ‘s adult population lacks the minimum of literacy skills; and two – thirds (493 million ) are women, and young people from them are estimated by 122 million, females represent 60.7% of them. For children, there are about 67 million of them do not have access to primary education, and 72 million drop out of secondary education.
He says that the scourge of illiteracy is one of the reasons for the high unemployment and crime rates, and the collapse of public health as well as the oppression of women, not to mention the high cost of illiteracy on the global economy, which is estimated at US $ 1.2 trillion. Even for those who know how to read and write, the reading and publishing rates low, particularly in the Arab world, which specialists believe that the reason for decline in the use of the Arabic language sound dramatically. This is what motivates us to support education and dissemination of knowledge and to promote to get it , and provide a healthy learning environment for children free of diseases and their causes. Thus the actors in this sector to build 2126 schools around the world, and the training of 400 thousand teachers, and the distribution and printing of more than 3.2 million books, and the translation of thousand of cultural title, and encourage the millions of students in the Arab world to read 50 million titles every year, and support initiatives of Arabic language.
The urgent need to fight poverty and disease in the world.
Statistics confirm the existence of more than one billion people living on less than one dollar a day in extreme poverty, while struggling with more than 2.7 billion people in order to survive with an income of less than two dollars per day.
And poverty in developing nations goes far beyond the income poverty, noting that the poverty includes the need to walk for more than one mile every day just to get water , not to mention the existence of 750 million people worldwide do not have access to potable water definitely , and the fact that the death of a child every minute due to illness has to do with water, and despite the rise in international humanitarian aid , but it has not been met only two – thirds of the world ‘s needs requirements.
Therefore, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Global Initiatives Foundation seeks to extend a helping hand to the near and far, which is not to provide financial and material aid only , but also to help in the fight against poverty and disease and to address its root causes, which its aid included untill 2015 , nearly forty million people in 99 countries.
The Foundation seeks in the coming years, the implementation of several programs in the Arab region within a comprehensive vision and a clear and major specific goals, so that all the institutions falling under it and cooperate with each other to achieve them until 2025.
The conference, organized by the UAE , which is characterized by the ancient authentic civilization, is an important step to take advantage of technology and smart services and strengthen the partnership between government and the private sector to achieve leadership in providing government services and access from which to the delight of citizens and meet their needs and thus achieving the “Vision 2021”.
And the success of the conference is enhanced by the participation of a Ruler of Dubai, who has a positive outlook for the future visions specially that will be raised at the summit ,which provide an opportunity to discuss what is being put forward of ideas and new visions and look at what’s new that can take advantage of it and come out with strategies that are linked to the goals to serve ultimately the Arab community, and establish for the development of the overall infrastructure.
Shatha Khalil
Translated by: Mudhaffar al-Kusairi
Rawabet Center for Research and Strategic Studies