3,635  activities were organized in cooperation with 291 government and private bodies

Dubai, 29 July, 2019: As part of its cultural and humanitarian role to spread Islamic culture and values in society, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai has announced that it organized 3,635 activities in 2018, benefiting 91,997 people from different nationalities. The centre noted that its activities spanned from lessons, lectures, workshops, educational and cultural courses over the past year.

The centre worked with 291 government and private bodies to carry out its activities in 2018. As many as 90 lecturers from within and outside the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department participated in the lectures and seminars that were organized. The centre organized events in several languages in line with the cultural and social diversity of the emirate of Dubai, with a view to promoting the culture of Islam, tolerance and coexistence among citizens and residents, as well as endorsing the values of moderate Islam among the communities.

Commenting on the achievements of the centre in the past year, Hind Lootah, Director of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture, stressed that the centre is keen to realize the vision of the government as outlined by H.H. Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. She added that the emirate of Dubai is a global model that promotes the values of fairness, moderation and Islamic culture. 

“The centre will continue to work on disseminating the values and principles of Islam, providing support to new Muslims, and organizing programs and activities that will achieve the humanitarian mission of the centre,” Lootah said.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture organized 146 lectures, 59 workshops, 456 courses and 2,974 religious lessons for teachers and adjunct teachers. While the total number of the people who benefited from the programs and activities of the centre during the same period was 18,411 for the lessons and 2,267 for the lectures and 71,319 for the public programs and activities. The number of new Muslims who converted to Islam during this period amounted to 3,176 individuals. 

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture provides support and guidance to new Muslims to help them understand and represent the values of Islam. Last year, the centre provided 618 support services covering various aspects of interest to new Muslims. At an inquiry level, the total number of queries the centre received reached 7,964; 2,261 of which came via social media channels; 502 via e-mail; 2,899 through personal attendance and 2,302 via telephone. 

It is worth noting that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture comprises three sections, namely the Department of Cultural Communication, the Department of New Muslim Support and the Department of Students' Affairs. The functions of these departments are integrated to serve the centre’s mission to promote cultural interchange in society, spread Islamic culture through events and activities, in addition to defining the values of moderate Islam adopted by the UAE.