DUBAI, 24th July 2013 – Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has ordered a grant of AED5 million to the UAE Writers Union to enable it to continue its activities in the UAE and its participation overseas.

The Chairman of Union, Habib Al Sayegh, thanked Sh. Mohammad for the generous gesture, and for his unwavering support and patronage for the cultural body serving the nation’s higher interests and helping the writers to accomplish their national mission.

Earlier Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum received the chairman and members of the UAE Writers Union and a number of intellectuals who visited him at Zabeel Palace to offer their greetings on the advent of the Holy Month of Ramadan.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid expressed his best wishes for the UAE literary and cultural movement, and his hopes that more activities will be organised to reflect the UAE heritage, its authentic Arabic culture and national identity.

The visitors expressed their best wishes for His Highness and for the leadership and people of the UAE.

At the meeting, poems were read by a number of writers in presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

In his 27-line poem titled “Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s Ramadan Majlis”, Dr. Aref Al Shaikh hailed the annual tradition of gathering under the auspices of his His Highness during the Holy Month of Ramadan. Another poem read by Ibrahim Bu Malha, Advisor to Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, praised Sheikh Mohammed’s wisdom, generosity and authenticity which all have become a guide for men and women of the UAE people towards glory.

The meeting was attended by H. H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and H.H. Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy ruler of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Majed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ministers and senior officials.

Later, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid performed the Maghreb prayer along with his guests and then all had iftar.