The ruler of Dubai is ready to start a “pan-Arab” discussion about the region’s future…

Next week Dubai will host the World Government Summit – the event is a big deal considering everyone from genius South African-US inventor Elon Musk to the new UN Secretary General, the Japanese Prime Minister, the CEO of Uber and the founder of LinkedIn will be there.

The meeting of minds will discuss everything from the future of transportation to the challenges and opportunities of globalism.

But one talk we will be particularly interested in is the debate H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, ruler of Dubai, will host about the future of the Arab World.

Sheikh Mohammed wants the discussion to be “pan-Arab” and to involve many different people, and so has asked for people to send him questions via Twitter, and he will discuss many of them during the talk:

How do you get involved in the chat? Well just tweet at Sheikh Mohammed with #ArabFuture and your question and it will be added to consideration.

Sheikh Mohammed has said that open discussion of the Arab world’s future is important at a time when the region “is facing substantial challenges on all fronts”.

But he’s hopeful:

Sheikh Mohammed on the Arab world

1. ON THE IMPORTANCE OF LITERACY

“In the 9th century, our region had over 100 publishing houses on the outskirts of Baghdad alone? Those publishing houses published thousands of books. They were also home to more than just publishers; they were cultural hubs where scientists, researchers, intellectuals and translators from myriad religions, civilisations and walks of life gathered to share ideas and debate. We also had a ‘House of Wisdom’, which housed over a million books, and where hundreds of writers and thinkers lived. When its life was centred around books, Baghdad was, my friend, a beacon in the worlds of astronomy, medicine, mathematics and philosophy. Where is Baghdad today?

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2. ON WHY HE APPOINTED A MINISTER OF TOLERANCE

“We have also learned from hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of refugees in our region that sectarian, ideological, cultural and religious bigotry only fuel the fires of rage. We cannot and will not allow this in our country. We need to study, teach, and practice tolerance – and to instill it in our children, both through education and our own example.”

lubna al qassimi

Lubna Al Qassimi – the UAE’s Minister of Tolerance

He goes on to explain that when the Arab world was “tolerant and accepting of others it led the world”. Explaining that, from the civilizations of Damascus to Andalusia, Arab people “provided beacons of science, knowledge, and civilization, because humane values were the basis of our relationships with all civilizations, cultures, and religions.”

3. ON THE ARAB WORLD’S FUTURE

“Arab civilization once played a great role in contributing to human knowledge, and will play that role again.”

4. ON THE NEED FOR CHANGE

“Our Arab societies need to be prepared intellectually to embed the culture of tolerance, openness and peaceful co-existence. We must strive for an intellectual and cultural renaissance.”

5. ON THE UAE’S MARS MISSION 

Mars Mission

“An Arab official once asked me about the target the UAE wanted to achieve from launching the first Arab probe to Mars. I told him: we want to send a message of hope to 350 million Arabs that we are capable of reclaiming our future.”

This quote is from Flashes of Wisdom, which is in both Arabic in English. Available in most major bookshops now and on BooksArabia.com from Dhs40.

ALSO NEXT WEEK

The Government Summit will also host a talk on the future of transportation, liquid borders, the next 100 years in Dubai and more. Here’s a guide to what will be discussed there:

And don’t worry, we’ll keep you updated on what is discussed there next week, so keep checking back, and follow us on Facebook for updates!

Photos: Getty & Dubai Media Office