A Scottish delegation organised and led by Dundee’s Al-Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies left for Dubai yesterday (Sunday) for a series of top-level meetings over the next few days.
It is the second year that the Institute has been involved in organising such a visit and the aim is to both widen and strengthen the links between Dubai and Scotland through their presence in Dundee.
Leading the delegation will be Lord Elder, Chancellor of the Al-Maktoum Institute and his Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abd al-Fattah El-Awaisi. The other members taking part are Mr Doug Grimond, Director of Economic Development for Dundee City Council, Mr Ernie Ross MP for Dundee West and a member of the Al-Maktoum Institute Council, David Smith, Director of Europe, Middle East and Africa for Scottish Development International and Lord Sewel, senior Vice Principal at the University of Aberdeen. The delegation will also be joined by Professor Malory Nye. Director of the Centre for the Study of Islam and Muslims in Scotland, at the Al-Maktoum Institute, who is giving a series of public lectures while on a working visit to Dubai over the next month.
Over the next four days there will a series of formal events including audiences with His Highness Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and the patron of the Al-Maktoum Institute, His Highness Shaikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al-Nahayan, Minister for Higher Education in the UAE and dinner hosted by Simon Collis, the Consul-General at the British Embassy in Dubai.
The main business of the delegation will be a round of meetings arranged with a number of key organisations involved in higher education and medicine, industry, transport and culture.
Professor El-Awaisi said: “The Al-Maktoum Insitute is not just an educational establishment. We are also acting as a catalyst to developing stronger economic and cultural links between Dubai and Scotland. Our efforts have already borne fruit.
“Last year, during our stay, Dundee’s Lord Provost, John Letford asked HH Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rahsid Al-Maktoum about the possibility of direct air flights linking Scotland and Dubai. As a result the Shaikh reactivated an idea that was already under consideration and last month it was announced that Emirates Airlines would begin regular scheduled flights between Dubai and Glasgow from next spring.
“We have a hectic schedule, involving a number of important meetings, arranged throughout the course of the week. I am very hopeful that we will also be able to announce some good news for Dundee and Scotland as a result of this trip.”
The delegation will fly out to Dubai on Sunday and will return next Thursday.
