Al Maktoum Foundation to refocus on Middle East

Middle East‘s largest development and community foundation includes 1,400 development programmes and initiatives targeting 130 million in need through to 2025

English: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, at the World Economic Forum Summit on the Global Agenda 2008 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced today the launch of one of the largest development and community foundations in the Middle East region, to be called the “Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives”. The new foundation consolidates the work of 28 organizations focusing on fighting poverty and illness, spreading knowledge and culture, empowering the community and driving innovation. Combined, the foundation’s initiatives will implement over 1,400 human development programs in more than 116 countries around the world.

Commenting on the launch, Sheikh Mohammed said, “The Arab region is undergoing massive challenges. We will not turn our backs on our region, we will provide our support, and bring hope for our youth.” He added: “The world today is facing great challenges on all levels; in terrorism, wars and mass immigration and the only solution lies in human development which can be achieved by educating people and helping them build their future.”

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives will target over 130 million people over the coming years and will focus its programs on the Arab region. It will also launch the largest comprehensive development program in the Arab region focusing on human development in an integrated manner starting with providing the basic human needs from health, fighting illiteracy and poverty through to providing knowledge, the dissemination of culture and the development of education. It will work in parallel on developing a new generation of young Arab leaders, supporting real change in the area of ​​good governance in the region and providing the largest incubator for Arab innovators, scientists and researchers.

The primary basic goals of the new foundation were announced, focusing on four main sectors: Fighting Poverty; Dissemination of Knowledge; Community Empowerment and Innovation for the Future.

The foundation’s website http://www.almaktouminitiatives.org has further information regarding future goals, past achievements and the organisations and programmes which will combine under the Initiatives.