Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 07, 2019:  The inaugural edition of the global Youth Forum, hosted by the World Muslim Communities Council, kicked off in Abu Dhabi on Saturday witnessing participation of over 250 delegates from non-Muslim countries. 

Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates – December 7, 2019: We live in an era of rapid change, in which challenges are constantly renewed that require creative and innovative solutions, says HE Dr Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the World Muslim Communities Council (TWMCC). 

Delivering his keynote address at the first Youth Forum in Abu Dhabi, Al Nuaimi called to listen the young people who are facing different challenges, and give them the opportunity to create the future by assuming their responsibilities. “Our vision in the UAE is not to carry on the crisis of the past, but to live our reality and creating our future as our main goal, and this is what we invite you to do. We accommodate human diversity, co-existence and peace. We are looking forward to a joint cooperation in order to find solution to the problems of Muslims around the world.” 

“The youth are facing wide challenges, and we have to give all what we have to them. They are the future and they may shape it by undertaking their responsibilities. Find solutions to your problems by yourself and not to wait for solutions imported from outside. Don’t not recruit past crises, rather to benefit and build your communities, countries and religion according to what suits your needs and challenges. Islam invites us to tolerate non-Muslims and spread tolerance amongst each other,” he added. 

“We are striving for a joint cooperation to create solutions for the problems of Muslims around the world. We strongly advise you to forget the obstacles of the past but rather benefit and build your communities, countries and religion according to what suites your needs and challenges,” added the Chairman of TWMCC. 

Welcoming the delegates to Abu Dhabi, he said, “We are pleased to attend this event which is a hope for this nation and for Muslims.” The two-day Conference, themed ‘Building Future Leaders: Commitment, Integrity and Innovation’, will conclude on December 8, 2019 in the capital. As the UAE is moving towards the culmination of the Year of Tolerance, prominent policy makers and religious leaders from around the world landed in the capital to initiate discussions on promoting global peace and inclusive society. The delegates included community leaders, scholars, activists, artists, entrepreneurs and innovators from around the world will envision new strategies, approaches and programs for leadership development among young Muslims worldwide. 

The Conference is aimed to empower the Muslim youth in these countries to take up leadership roles in their societies stand for tolerance and peace in the world.

Focusing on the common values, the Conference will spread the culture of peace to achieve community security. Inspired by the UAE’s pioneering international initiatives, the Conference will promote the values of coexistence and mutual respect among the peoples of the world. Our purpose is to lead tolerance and dialogue between followers of religions and cultures, held by international and Islamic organizations on the subject of Muslim societies. 

HE Dato Dr. Koutoub Moustapha SANO (Minister in the President Office and Diplomatic Advisor to the President, Presidency of the Republic of Guinea), Dr. Robert D Crane (Adviser to the late President of the US Richard Nixon and the former Deputy Director of the US National Security Council, USA), H.E. Rosy Sofia Akber (Minister of Education, Heritage and Art, Fiji), H.E. Ibragimov Isa Magomed-Khabievich (Minister of Youth, the Chechen Republic), Mr. Thapelo Amad (Legislative Councilor in the Municipality of Johannesburg, South Africa), Dr. Rustam Nurgaleev, Secretary-General, Council of Scholars, Republic of Tatarstan & VP, Islamic University of Russia; Mr. Lee Ju Hwa, Imam Korean Muslim Federation, South Korea; H.E. Alyautdinov Ildar (Mufti of Moscow, the Russian Federation; Ms. Lauren Booth, English broadcaster, journalist and activist; Prof. Jackie Yiru Ying, American nanotechnology scientist and the founding executive director of the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore; Ms. Lisa Vogl, award-winning American fashion photographer and Co-Founder of Muslim fashion brand Verona Collection; and Mr. Nuwagaba Muhsin Kaduyu, Founder of Allied Muslim Youth and Rep of Uganda National Dialogue Coordinating Team were among the key speakers of the event.

The Conference leads discussions on a variety of topics including future leadership development; community engagement, inter-faith practice and social inclusion; building new generation of Muslim leaders with innovation, entrepreneurship and philanthropy; inspiring future leadership with the stories of achievers; bringing up kids to be the next champions and leaders; how blockchain and Islamic Finance enhance financial inclusion; faith in the age of new media; new approaches to Islamic jurisprudence, education and etiquette.