Sheikh Mohammed Promotes Regional Human Development With $10 Billion Endowment

His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, launched yesterday the 'Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation', a major initiative to promote human development and provide hope and opportunity by investing in education and knowledge-development in the region. His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed, made the announcement in a keynote speech at the World Economic Forum for the Middle East being held in Jordan.

The Foundation, which will be launched with an endowment of Dhs. 37 billion, aims to open doors for future generations of leaders of the region to shape their future by equipping them with world-class knowledge and education.

The Foundation will source and manage a wide range of initiatives including the establishment of high-quality research programs and research centers and the provision of scholarships to students to attend leading universities and institutes. It will also support research in universities across the region. In addition, the Foundation will provide leadership programmes for youth in government, the private sector and in non-governmental organizations. Scholarships and research grants will also be given to authors and researchers in the region.

His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed, said "It gives me great pleasure to announce a personal initiative aimed at building a knowledge-based society throughout the region."

His Highness stressed that the Foundation will undertake concrete initiatives to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship throughout the region, thus creating significant new employment opportunities and provide hope for the region's youth.

His Highness said that 'We have a population where half its members are under the age of 20, and it is our responsibility to develop this human capital to the best of our ability. We have the vision and the will to set the stage for the benefit of future generations through the development of this Foundation, which will provide the prerequisites for moving our region forward.'

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launches foundation to promote human development with DHS 37 billion endowment (AME Info)