As part of its efforts to spread Islamic culture and human values among the various strata of society, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture of the Islamic Affairs and Charitable activities Department in Dubai (IACAD), revealed the details of its calendar of activities for the second half of 2019. These include a variety of initiatives aimed at students, women, employees, spouses, parents and working groups, as well as the general community in Dubai.

Keen to reach the largest possible segment of the target group, the centre altered its programs to include lectures, lessons, courses, seminars, workshops, as well as interactive competitions and special publications.

The centre held the “Eidna Maakum” (Our Eid with you) event at the Pakistani School in Dubai, which featured various competitions and saw the distribution of greeting cards in different languages to the audience, with the aim of spreading happiness and joy and introducing customs and traditions and the importance of Eid for Muslims. The centre will also celebrate Emirati Women’s Day on 28^th August by distributing a collection of publications to various communities living in Dubai to raise awareness of Emirati women’s achievements in different fields. On the occasion of the International Day for Tolerance, the centre will also organise a two-day exhibition of productive families in November, in order to talk about the common customs and traditions of different people that reflect the values of human tolerance.

Hind Lootah, Director of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture, affirmed that the centre is keen to be part of various religious, national and international events, in its endeavor to build bridges of cultural communication and spread Islamic culture among the residents of the emirate. Lootah said: “National, religious, and international events are great opportunities that enable us to spread awareness on Islamic and Emirati culture among the residents of Dubai spanning different religious and cultural backgrounds.”

The centre has developed a comprehensive plan targeting students. The centre organises a week-long course on the culture and customs of the UAE, during which it covers various related topics and includes two field trips. At the beginning of the academic year, the centre will organise multi-lingual meetings with students in schools, which will see the participation of the Counselors of the Cultural Communication Department accredited by the centre. The aim is to spread and bolster the values of tolerance and coexistence among students.  A series of educational manuals will also be distributed to participating students. The centre continues to organise its “Ryadussaliheen” lectures devised to foster the values of Islamic culture among the children of new Muslims.

The centre also organises a special program, which includes workshops and lectures, to empower and integrate People of Determination at the Philippine School in Dubai and ensure their effective participation in the community. Furthermore, in October, an open day set to take place within the Student Affairs department will afford students the opportunity to hone their skills and talents by attending a series of workshops. The competition for students will be held throughout October and November, while the annual ceremony to honor all participating students of the centre will be organised in December 2019.

Hind Lootah added: “Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture gives special importance to students, both at the centre and at schools in the emirate. With this in mind, we always ensure that the centre’s strategy includes programs and events that target this category as it represents the future, and it is therefore essential that we introduce them to Islamic and Emirati cultural values and encourage them to be more open to social and cultural diversity.”

The centre launched the program “Add your contribution”, which aims to spread Islamic culture among different religious and cultural communities through lectures, workshops, discussions and competitions in Islamic values. These activations target the working category in the government and private sector, schools, trade centres and hotels, as well as domestic workers. The program focuses on teaching them how to deal with others, raising awareness about the UAE law, as well as tutoring participants on the principles of Arabic language.

During the second half of the year, the centre continues to run the “Buthoor Al-Khair” (Seeds of Goodness) program, which includes lectures, seminars and workshops, both inside and outside the centre, aimed at spreading Islamic culture and promoting positive communication in the community. The centre also continues its partnership with Dubai Police through a series of regular awareness lectures in English and Tagalog to the inmates of correctional and penal institutions in Dubai.

Lootah concluded: “At Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture, we are proud of our long-standing partnership with Dubai Police for the periodic lectures program, which resulted in several successes that contributed to the centre’s humanitarian mission. This is in line with the objectives of the emirate of Dubai to foster a culture of giving, as announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai (may God bless him) in the articles of 50-Year-Charter, and includes aspects of His Highness’s vision of the future of Dubai and the life that everyone wishes to live in its communities.”

When it comes to trips and outdoor activities, the centre continues to organise “Discover the beauty of the Emirates” program through tourist trips to communities across the country in order to encourage positive communication and promote Islamic culture and customs and traditions of the UAE. Furthermore, the centre organises Umrah trips for new Muslim families, as part of previously announced criteria, in order to create honest competition between Muslim families in a race for good. The program “Umrah of new Muslims” is held under the supervision and sponsorship of the Department of New Muslims and the Office of Hajj and Umrah Affairs in IACAD.

During the first half of the year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Islamic Culture organised 1,854 different activities, ranging from lectures, lessons, courses and workshops, benefiting about 50,000 beneficiaries from different religions, nationalities and cultural backgrounds.