Her Highness Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Attends the Third Day of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition

Dubai, UAE, March 16, 2022: Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Member of the Dubai Council, attended the third day of the Dubai International Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition – DIHAD, where leading international charitable and humanitarian organizations meet to address vital humanitarian issues by organizing panel discussions and networking opportunities to share local and international experiences and opinions.

Her Highness also attended a panel discussion titled Children of DIHAD, by which a group of students from the International School of Creative Science in Dubai shared their visions and ideas on sustainable development while discussing new ways to harness initiatives that help developing countries reach innovative solutions to reduce poverty and illiteracy.

Her Highness then toured the corridors of the humanitarian exhibition accompanied by His Excellency Amb. Dr. Abdul Salam Al Madani, Chairman of DIHAD Foundation, Chairman of INDEX Holding,, Chairman of DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation, Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM) and Roving Ambassador for the GCC, H.E. Dr. Hamad Al Sheikh Ahmed Al Shaibani, Director General, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department (IACAD), and H.E. Mr. Gennaro Migliore, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), and Sara Al Madani, Board of Trustee – DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation, where Her Highness visited  the wings of both The Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, The International City of Humanitarian Services, the UAE Red Crescent Authority, DIHAD Glasshouse, the  UN Pavilion, Noor Dubai Foundation, the Norwegian Pavilion, Zayed Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Works, and Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

This year’s DIHAD Conference & Exhibition attracted more than 600 governmental and non-governmental organizations dealing with the humanitarian sector, including charities and multiple companies and industry suppliers from around the world. DIHAD attracted more than 6,000 international visitors and participants during its three-day event.

Conference:

On its last day, the conference discussed a number of important topics on such as Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), which were presented during a session chaired by Dr. Luay Shabaneh, Regional Director for the Arab States and North Africa (UNFPA), and was attended by Dr. Shereen El-Feki, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, UNAIDS, Dr. Dorothee Klaus, Director of  Relief and Social Services, UNRWA, and Ms. Fairuz Taqi-Eddiin, Chief of Partnerships and Resource Mobilization, UNICEF Gulf Area.

A session titled Life below Water and Life on Land, which discussed Goal 14 and 15 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), was chaired by Ms. Elise d’Epenoux, Senior Director for Public Affairs and International Communications at the non-governmental organization – SeaCleaners.  The panel also included Dr. Sayeda Ali Ahmed Khalil, National Climate Change Expert and REDD+ Coordinator, Sudan, Mr. Laurens de Groot, Social Entrepreneur and Environmental Activist from Amsterdam, and Ms. Raabia A.K. Hawa, Founder of Ulinzi Africa Foundation – Kenya, and Founder of Walk with Rangers Initiative.

Initiatives:

On its third day, DIHAD Conference and Exhibition received an announcement of the results of DIHAD Glasshouse, which aims to empower young talents in the humanitarian field and work to strengthen healthcare systems, education, and professional empowerment in developing countries. The DIHAD Glasshouse panel of judges which included His Excellency Abdulrahman Al Mansouri, CEO of Waterfalls Global Initiative, Dr. Waleed Al-Ali, Advisor at Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, Eng. Khaled Alattar, Chairman of GADHA, and Sara Al Madani, Board of Trustee – DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation, with cooperation from the Dubai Future Council for Humanitarian Aid and Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, and in cooperation with GADHA, selected two innovative projects – one serving humanity through the harnessing of art and technology and the second project serving by use of sport and physical activity.

Khaled Al Attar, Chairman of GADHA, stated:  “In line with the UAE’s humanitarian philosophies in mind, and from the youth empowerment approach, DIHAD Glasshouse is the fertile ground for creating opportunities for the youth and meeting the needs of vulnerable groups in societies. I was very pleased with the quality of projects involved in DIHAD Glasshouse, which rely on cooperative partnerships to serve humanity in all parts of the world.”

Conventions:

The last day also saw the signing of a cooperation agreement between the DIHAD Sustainable Humanitarian Foundation and the Islamic Food Security Organization to achieve Sustainable Development Goals through strong global partnerships and cooperation between the two organizations. The agreement provided for the development of general principles with a framework for discussing the development of common areas of cooperation and the participation of humanitarian expertise in all applicable areas.

The 19th edition of DIHAD Conference and Exhibition will be held on March 13-15, 2023 with a continued emphases on global cooperation. Organised annually by INDEX Conference and Exhibitions Organization Est., – a member of INDEX Holding and supported by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the Dubai Future Council on Humanitarian Aid, the Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, the UAE Red Crescent Authority, the United Nations, and International Humanitarian City.