Developing the sciences are a top priority for the UAE

Dubai / WAM

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai,said that developing the sciences are a top priority for the UAE, given its importance to achieve the government’s strategic objectives by assisting and advising government bodies in their various development projects.
“The prosperity of any society lies in investing in the capabilities of its scientists and researchers and involving them in the planning for the future,” His Highness said. “We launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists, the first of its kind in the Arab world, to be the incubator platform for all scientists of the region and their cutting-edge research that we need to sustain our growth and development,” he added.
“Our aims are to revive the spirit of scientific production to serve humanity, enhance the role of scientists in the development process of the UAE, and to create an Emirati community of scientists across all scientific disciplines,” Sheikh Mohammed explained.
Sheikh Mohammed’s remarks came as he attended the first annual meeting the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists, which took place at Etihad Museum in the presence of prominent scientists and experts from various scientific fields.
The Annual Meeting focused on three main topics: natural sciences, health sciences, and engineering and technology. Ten discussion groups were formed with an aim to develop scientific plans and initiatives to achieve the national strategies and objectives and enrich the scientific arena locally and globally.
Present during the meeting were HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority; HH Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, and Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Sciences and Chairperson of Emirates Scientists Council, along with a
number of senior officials.
The meeting witnessed the launch of the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence, which aims to honour distinguished scholars and researchers who achieved remarkable contributions in scientific fields. The medal, which represents the highest Emirati scientific honour, was awarded to Dr Saeed Alhassan Alkhazraji, from the UAE, and Dr Hassan Arafat, from the Kingdom of Jordan, for their achievements
and contributions to the
sciences.
Sarah Al Amiri said, “The Annual Meeting of the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists comes as a response to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed’s message to the community of scientists to advance the role of science and scientists in the UAE.”
Al Amiri noted that the Mohammed bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence honours distinguished scholars and researchers who achieved remarkable contributions in scientific fields.
She explained that a specialised committee at the Mohammed bin Rashid Academy of Scientists reviewed over 50 profiles for scientists and researchers before selecting the honourees of the medal for this year. The same process will be applied in the coming years to award more distinguished scientists and researchers.