In its efforts to foster cross-cultural dialogue, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has launched a number of initiatives such as:
The Arab-German Cultural Dialogue
On April 9th, 2008, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with East-West Diwan Cultural Association, a Berlin-based not-for-profit organization, to explore new avenues for enhanced Arab-European cultural cooperation.
The agreement came in line with the directive of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish close cultural ties with Germany. During his visit to Berlin in February 2008, His Highness met an elite group of Germany’s leading cultural figures and urged Arab and German intellects to pave the way for wider dialogue between the West and the Arab world.
Upon signing the MoU, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation initiated a workshop to discuss plans to translate the understanding into initiatives and programmes that will lay the foundations for a new phase of cultural interaction that is driven by mutual understanding.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation sees translation as an effective tool in shaping civilizations. Accordingly, it has adopted a long-term plan to translate selected German books into Arabic and vice versa. In this regard, the Foundation has joined hands with East-West Diwan Cultural Association which shares the Foundation objectives, to supervise the translation work.
The Arab-German Literary Forum (Dubai, 26-27 November 2008) is one of the initiatives of this understanding. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has invited a group of prominent German and Arab intellectuals to meet in Dubai, the city that brings together Arab culture and world civilizations. Learn more about the Arab-German Cultural Dialogue
The Turkey-UAE Cultural Dialogue
On the 11th of April 2008, with a generous grant from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Foundation launched the first phase of a project to modernize the library of the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), which is located in the historic Yildiz Palace in Istanbul. The programme’s ambitious objectives include equipping the IRCICA Library with world-class infrastructure, the digitization of a large part of the library’s collection, and connecting the library’s sections with an advanced network.
Casa Árabe in Spain
On May 2nd, 2008, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Casa Árabe to enhance cultural cooperation between Spain and the Arab world. The agreement is in line with the Foundation's strategy to explore new avenues of effective cultural cooperation between the Arab world and knowledge-producing countries. Collaboration will include translation.