Dubai to host world peace conference

Dubai International Peace Convention is a perfect opportunity to illustrate Islam's teachings of peace, said Hamad bin Al Sheikh Ahmed Al Shaibani, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace and chairman of the Dubai International Peace Convention.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Shaibani said the third Dubai International Peace Convention will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center on April 17-19 and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Award for World Peace will be announced during the ceremony. The $1.5 million award is world’s richest prize for outstanding humanitarian work.
“The award aims to promote a message of peace, moderation, coexistence and dialogue,” Shaibani added.
The award reflects the vision of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum that nothing is more precious than peace. The winner has not yet been announced.
"Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum's approval of the value of the awards makes it the richest peace prize globally. It will honor deserving individuals and organizations from around the world for exemplary contributions to world harmony and inter-faith dialogue,” said Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, vice chairman of the board of trustees and vice chairman of the Dubai International Peace Convention.
The event, which is in collaboration with Al-Manar Qur’an Study Centre, will host a number of scholars and clerics from various Arab and Islamic countries, including Asim Al-Hakim from Saudi Arabia. Based in Jeddah, Sheikh Assim Al-Hakeem is one of the prominent propagators of Islam in English in Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Mishari Bin Rashid Al-Afasi (Kuwait), Sheikh Yusuf Estes (US), Zakir Naik (India), Sheikh Ismail Bin Musa Minq (Zimbabwe), Sheikh Mohammed Salah (US), Sheikh Tawfiq Choudhodri (Australia), Sheikh Noman Ali Khan (US), Sheikh Waleed Bassiouni (US), Sheikh Abdul Bari Yehya (US), Sheikh Said Rageah (US), and Sheikh Ahmed Hamid (India), are some other scholars who confirmed their participation.
“The convention will include inter-faith panel discussions in multiple languages. The public will be given the opportunity to participate in activities associated with the convention including the Intelligent Peace Dome, a Science Fair, Friday prayers, the Peace Pledge Campaign, Children's Corner and the 2014 Peace Football Tournament for schools.” said Omar Mohammad Al Khateeb, member of the award's board of trustees.
Asked why there are no female orators, Mariam Al-Afirdi, head of the Media Committee, told Arab News that the event will discuss various women-related issues and that “we are still looking for perfect women candidates to address the event.”
She said that news and updates related to the convention can be accessed via Facebook (mrawpeace), twitter (@mrawpeace using hashtag #DubaiPeace), and Instagram (@mrawpeace).