Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, affirmed that “maintaining distance from global polarizations is the best way to ensure the stability and prosperity of the region.”
He highlighted that the costs of wars are high in terms of both lives and resources, emphasizing that the continuation of conflicts means everyone loses in the pursuits of development and shaping the future.
“Our region urgently needs, more than ever, to reconcile its differences, unify efforts, and harness the energies of the people for comprehensive prosperity,” said the Dubai ruler.
The security and prosperity of the region are intertwined, and it is the collective responsibility of everyone to contribute to building a better tomorrow for future generations, he asserted.
Sheikh Mohammed made these remarks at the Arab Strategy Forum 2024, which is being held under the theme “The Political and Economic State of the Arab World.”
The forum was also attended by Prince Turki Al Faisal bin Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, along with several sheikhs in the UAE, ministers, officials, strategic experts, and thought leaders in politics and economics from various parts of the world.
Stressing the high human and resource costs of wars, Sheikh Mohammed underscored the need to put an end to the ongoing conflict and exert maximum efforts towards achieving lasting peace.
“Our unique position has historically given us an exceptional advantage to serve as a humanitarian and cultural bridge for communication between global entities,” he said.
“In the United Arab Emirates, we believe in the diversity of perspectives among nations in politics, economics, and their individual views on global affairs.”
“Our strategy involves dealing with emerging crises and facing developmental and social challenges,” clarified Sheikh Mohammed.
“We are confident that in the coming years, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries will continue to consolidate their influential presence both regionally and internationally,” he added.
“They will also venture into new horizons in economic diversification, which is expected to have a positive impact on people of the region and the world,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
