21 March 2018, Abu Dhabi, UAE:    The Arab Thought Foundation (ATF) has announced the agenda for its 16th FIKR conference, to be held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Titled Stabilization Challenges Amidst Regional Turmoil, the conference will take place between the 10th and 12th of April at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

 

On the eve of the conference, the Arab Thought Foundation will release its 10th Annual Arab Report on Cultural Development, under the patronage of the UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, H.E. Noura al Kaabi. The report, titled Innovation or Annihilation, Arab Scientific Research: Facts, Challenges and Horizons, will be launched during a ceremony on April 9th, at 11 AM.

 

The conference will feature an official opening ceremony at noon, followed by an opening session that will be centered around a discussion of the turmoil in the region, its repercussions and possible stabilization. The conference will include three plenary sessions: The Role of International Powers; The Role of Regional and International Organizations in Stabilization; and Means of Stabilization. There will also be two sets of parallel specialized sessions, a first set about Turmoil: root causes, forms and repercussions and a second set covering Stabilization mechanisms: the contribution of influential sectors. 

 

On the last day of the conference, the Arab Thought Foundation will organize a seminar about scientific research, technological development and innovation in Arab countries and their contribution to comprehensive sustainable development and stabilization. The conference will then conclude with a session titled Towards the New Arab.

 

Conference Agenda

 

Day 1 - Tuesday, April 10th, 2018
12:00 – 13:00	Opening ceremony - Director General of the Arab Thought Foundation - MC welcome note  - Secretary-General of the Arab League - keynote speech - President of the Arab Thought Foundation - keynote address
14:30 – 16:00	Opening session  The session aims at drawing a comprehensive framework for the stabilization challenges amidst the turmoil sweeping the region.
16:30 – 18:00	Plenary session I: International Powers: Vision, Policies, and Role The session presents views and perspectives from the United States of America, the Russian Federation, the European Union, and China on the status of turmoil in the region and its causes, as well as the policies adopted by these countries to promote stability and their role in achieving this goal.
Day 2 - Wednesday, April 11th, 2018
9:00 – 11:00	Specialized parallel sessions: Turmoil in the Arab World: underlying root-causes, manifestations, and consequences These consist of four sessions addressing economic, political, and social aspects, inquiring on the roots of turmoil, its causes, forms, and repercussions, through the following topics: - Poverty, disparities and unemployment: This session addresses the economic factors that ignite disorder and turmoil, such as poverty, deprivation, unemployment, poor living standards, and economic disparities. - Disruption of political action mechanisms: The session addresses the political factors, the inadequacy of the efforts of concerned bodies and stakeholders in expressing/articulating social demands, and the modest public engagement.  - External interventions: The session discusses the role of Turkey and Iran in the Arab conflicts, and their attempts to interfere in internal Arab affairs. It also tackles the role of the Zionist entity in manipulating the situation in the region and its attempt to expand its settlements and control on Palestinian occupied territories. - Extremism and terrorism: In this session, topics such as extremism and terrorism will be discussed with a focus on key factors that cause their emergence, and their impact at the social, political, and security levels.
11:30 – 13:00	Plenary session II: Role of Regional and International Organizations in Achieving Stabilization This session presents the views of a number of leading regional and international organizations and their respective experience/expertise in dealing with turmoil in the region and their role in promoting its stability.
14:30 – 16:00	Plenary session III: Mechanisms to Promote the Stability of the Arab Region During this session, eminent Arab political and economic leaders will present their views/perspectives on the policies that might be adopted in order to face the current challenges and possible avenues to achieve stabilization by:  establishing the Rule of Law, institutions building, political engagement, providing social justice and sustainable development, developing the educational systems, finding a just resolution to the Palestinian Cause, and strengthening Arab solidarity.
20:00	Arab Creativity Award and Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony
Day 3 - Thursday, April 12th, 2018
9:00 – 11:00	Specialized parallel sessions: Promoting Stabilization efforts: The Influencing Sectors  These sessions focus on some sectors that are considered key in shaping the core values and conscience of current (and future) generations of Arabs, including:  - Media: This session discusses the role of audiovisual and print media, including negative roles like the endorsement of intolerance through publishing fake news, and promotion of divisions, turmoil, and extremism, and positive roles like rectification of misconceptions, embedment of values of national integration, enlightenment, forgiveness, and tolerance.  - Digital media and social media: The session addresses the consequences of the outburst in information and communication technologies that led to the emergence of new media outlets widely used by Arab youth. It also presents some pioneer Arab experiences in this field. - Culture and education: The session will feature key discussions on the role of the educational and cultural systems, including literature, poetry, cinema, theater, music, and other domains of creativity, in achieving stability.
11:30 – 13:00	Seminar: Scientific Research, Technological Development and Innovation in Arab Countries, and their Contribution to the Inclusive and Sustainable Development and to Achieving Stability in the Arab World
14:30 – 14:45	FIKR16 Conference conclusions
14:45 – 16:30	Closing session: Towards a New Arab Citizen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Specialized parallel sessions: Promoting Stabilization efforts: The Influencing Sectors 

These sessions focus on some sectors that are considered key in shaping the core values and conscience of current (and future) generations of Arabs, including: 

- Media: This session discusses the role of audiovisual and print media, including negative roles like the endorsement of intolerance through publishing fake news, and promotion of divisions, turmoil, and extremism, and positive roles like rectification of misconceptions, embedment of values of national integration, enlightenment, forgiveness, and tolerance. 

- Digital media and social media: The session addresses the consequences of the outburst in information and communication technologies that led to the emergence of new media outlets widely used by Arab youth. It also presents some pioneer Arab experiences in this field.

- Culture and education: The session will feature key discussions on the role of the educational and cultural systems, including literature, poetry, cinema, theater, music, and other domains of creativity, in achieving stability.