Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 05, 2019:   As the UAE is moving towards the culmination of the Year of Tolerance, prominent policy makers and religious leaders from around the world descend on the capital to promote global peace and inclusive society.

Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates – December 5, 2019: The World Muslim Communities Council (TWMCC) will host the inaugural edition of International Youth Forum in Abu Dhabi this weekend. With this global academic initiative, the capital of the UAE will launch a major institutional initiative to enhance the role of Muslim youth in their societies as well as international forums. 

More than 250 delegates from non-Muslim countries will congregate at the two-day Conference, themed ‘Building Future Leaders: Commitment, Integrity and Innovation’, which takes place at Fairmont Hotel Abu Dhabi on December 7 and 8, 2019. The Conference is aimed to help Muslim communities around the world to deal with the multi-faceted challenges arising from national integration, preservation of the faith and social development. 

Prominent policy makers, religious leaders and young achievers from around the world will share their insights on the challenges and opportunities of the Muslim communities. The delegates including 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. 

Commenting on the Conference, H.E. Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the WMCC, said, “We are glad to organize the International Youth Forum in Abu Dhabi as a global academic initiative at a time when the UAE is moving towards the culmination of the Year of Tolerance. This is in response to the demands of many leaders of institutions of Muslim communities in non-Muslim countries. The Conference will 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 UAE’s cultural 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 added. 

H.E. 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 are among the key speakers of the event.

The Conference will lead 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. 

H.E. Al Nuaimi elaborated, “The future of the Muslim communities largely depends on young leaders’ commitment and capabilities to communicate, unify and mobilize the members for the common good of their nation and beyond. Therefore, it is imperative that potential leaders and promising talents among the young Muslims have opportunities and platforms to learn, develop and exchange their understanding, approaches, and practices of harmonizing Islamic faith with new realities in today’s world. The youth is key to future of peace and prosperity. Whoever cherish and development their youth, they have made investment.” 

“In our time, the Muslim communities worldwide are faced with critical challenges in national integration, preservation of the faith and social development in an age of deepening globalization and conflictual sentiments. One key to tackle those challenges is to develop leaders and cultivate talents among young Muslims in the area of civic education, community organizing, cultural enrichment and knowledge renewal,” he concluded.