Supported by Al Maktoum Foundation, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences, and the Islamic Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the 1st International Conference of Islamic Arts was opened at Sharm el-Sheikh conference centre, the Arab Republic of Egypt. The 3-days conference is held under the patronage of the Egyptian Prime Minister and organized by the Arab Society of Arts and Islamic civilization under the title "cultural and civilization heritage between tradition and modernity in Islamic art".

 

During the opening ceremony, the Egyptian governorate of South Sinai and the conference honored H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the UAE Minister of Finance, and the patron of Al Maktoum Foundation and Hamdan Medical Award, in recognition of his efforts in highlighting the global value of the Arab civilization and Islamic Arts, besides his limitless support to the research in that field.

 

Dr. Ahmed al-Hashemi, a member of the Board of Trustees of Hamdan Medical Award and the representative of the award and Al Maktoum Foundation in the Conference, received the honorary shields presented to H.H. Sheikh Hamdan from General Abdel Fattah Helmi, Deputy Governor of South Sinai, and Dr. Mohammed Ali Zeinhom, the President of the Conference and the Arab Society of arts and Islamic Civilization.

 

Also, Dr. Ahmed al-Hashemi delivered the commemorative shields, presented from Al Maktoum Foundation, to the governorate of South Sinai, the ISESCO, the Arab Society of Arts and Islamic civilization, and the Conference, in recognition of the importance of this conference in highlighting the role of Islam and the Arab civilization regionally and globally.

 

During the opening ceremony, Dr. Ahmed Al-Hashimi delivered a speech in which he confirmed that supporting the conference by Al Maktoum Foundation and Hamdan Medical Award supports the strong Emarati-Egyptian brotherly relationships established by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed AL Nahyan, the President of UAE, and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the President of the Arabic Republic of Egypt, may Allah protect them, and embodying the mutual cooperation in all political, economic, and cultural fields.

 

“H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance, and the patron of Al Maktoum Foundation and Hamdan Medical Award, is one of the significant Emirati personalities working on supporting the Arab and Islamic civilization”, he said.

 

“H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid is a pioneer personality in the revival of the Arab sports heritage, regionally and globally, with a keen to highlight the important role played by creative minds of Arabs in developing all scientific, medical, educational and environmental areas. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al Maktoum established the Islamic Cultural center of Ireland and Al Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Scotland, and supports the activities of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization "UNESCO", which is responsible for protecting the World Arab and Islamic Heritage”, he pointed to.

 

In his speech, Dr. Ahmed al-Hashimi talked about the Islamic civilization. “This is one of the most important civilizations in history reached many countries around the world, and formed an important part of their culture”, he said.

 

“The ongoing attempts to blur such a deep-rooted civilization maximize the role of Arabs and Muslims in calling for tolerance and peaceful coexistence with others”, he said.

 

“The UAE is a model for justice and equality, as it embraces hundreds of cultures, civilizations and religions living in a wonderful peaceful coexistence”, he added.

 

“The UAE is keen to preserve its Islamic and Arab identity through many ways such as the strong presence of Islamic architecture in its modern mosques and buildings and through saving antiquities, manuscripts and precious pieces of art. 

 

Moreover, the UAE has embarked on improving the image of Arabs and Muslims globally through organizing many important global events highlighting the value of the Arab and Islamic heritage.

 

“The UAE is preparing to inaugurate a number of distinguished museums which is expected to preserve many archaeological collections and display the arts of the Islamic and Arab heritage. Also, these museums are expected to expand the base of people who are interested in these arts and attract researchers to work in related studies”.

 

“All the best to all the participants, with wishes to conclude the conference with realistic recommendations to revive the Islamic civilization arts in the contemporary Arab societies, fulfill the requirements of the sustainable development in these communities and enhance the Arab and Islamic civilization regionally and internationally”, Dr. Ahmed al Hashimi said.

 

Also, the speech of the ISESCO in the opening ceremony dealt with the importance of the conference and its recommendations in improving the agenda and projects of the organization which are related to enhancing the Islamic Arts in the Member States and encouraging the youth’s creativity.

 

It is worth mentioning that the International Conference of Islamic Arts discusses valuable researches from more than 10 Arab and Islamic country, with the aim of supporting the scientific concept of the Arab civilization, revealing its uniqueness, and discussing the ways to restore its role in interacting with the contemporary human civilization.