Dubai-UAE: 10 March, 2008 - The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation today announced a high level official delegation will visit Berlin this week to hold discussions with leading cultural organizations aimed at exploring closer cultural and intellectual cooperation between the UAE and Germany.

The visit comes in line with directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, following his meeting with a large group of German writers and intellectuals on the sidelines of his state visit to Berlin last month.

Headed by Yasser Hareb, Vice President for Culture, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, the delegation will focus on strengthening Arab-European cultural dialogue to increase awareness in the West about the Arab and Islamic culture.

The Foundation’s delegation will meet with officials of the East-West Association, a leading non-profit organization aimed at facilitating German-Arab cultural ties. The officials will also meet with leading German personalities in art and culture to brief them on the Foundation’s vision and objectives. They will also discuss UAE-German cooperation in organizing and hosting cultural exchange programmes, encouraging writers and stimulating joint scientific research.

Yasser Hareb said: “The Foundation is following the clear guidelines framed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed aimed at enhancing the Arab world’s knowledge capabilities. Seeking to accelerate knowledge transfer to the region, the Foundation follows a multi-track strategy that ensures knowledge flow originates from genuine sources.

“Historic relations between the UAE and Germany have always been conducive to closer cultural collaboration. Our long term objective is to leverage this cooperation to pave the way for extensive Arab-European dialogue. This will be a prelude to a new era of mutual understanding that will stamp out misconceptions about the Arab culture.”

Dubai has chosen to play a leading role in facilitating cultural dialogue between the region and the rest of the world. The Foundation’s wide range of strategic programmes and initiatives will contribute to enhance this role.

Hareb added: “Building a strong network of strategic partners across the world will bolster the Foundation’s efforts towards accelerating knowledge transfer to the region. We are very keen to open two-way knowledge flow channels to spread awareness around the world about the true nature of the Arab and Islamic civilizations and the noble values they stand for.”