Sheikh Mohammed receives diplomats at iftar banquet

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said the diplomatic corps is an integral component of the UAE community of diverse cultures, religions and ethnics.

He made the remarks during an iftar banquet he hosted in honour of heads of Arab, Islamic and foreign diplomatic corps accredited to the UAE at Za'abeel Palace on Thursday.

Present on the occasion were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE Foreign Minister.

Sheikh Mohammed greeted the diplomats as guests in their second home where they are also welcomed by official and community circles.

“We are keen on human and social interaction with all spectra of the society, especially during the holy month of Ramadan and religious and national occasions. You and your families constitute a part of the UAE’s diverse cultural, religious and ethnic community,” Sheikh Mohammed said while addressing the guests.

Mohammed Abdullah Al Uthman, Qatari Ambassador and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, said he and his fellow ambassadors were delighted at meeting Sheikh Mohammed at his Ramadan Majlis.

He added that Sheikh Mohammed's kind invitation and banquet were warmly welcomed and appreciated by the ambassadors in particular the foreign diplomats who were offered the opportunity to acquaint themselves with the rich local traditions and customs during the month of blessing.

The event was also attended by a number of sheikhs, ministers and senior officials as well as the visiting Jordanian Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh.

Earlier, Sheikh Mohammed visited the new premises of the Ministry of Economy located at the Etisalat Tower in Bur Dubai.

He was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

He toured various offices at the ministry and stressed the importance of the optimisation of performance with speed and efficiency through automation.

In the conference room, Sheikh Mohammed listened to a presentation on the economic, trade and industrial policies implemented by the ministry within the framework of the Federal Strategy of Governance and UAE Vision 2021.

Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi and Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri were also present.

Sheikh Mohammed was briefed on the legislative system, which the ministry is working to develop, focusing on a set of integrated visions and key objectives for transforming the UAE into an economic powerhouse and upgrade the national economy to achieve global competitiveness.

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