DUBAI, 8th May 2014 (WAM) -- Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum today attended the opening session of the Third International Conference on Arabic Language which brought together more than 500 speakers and 1000 participants from U.A.E. and other Arab countries to discuss the challenges facing the Arabic language and the language?s situation.

H.H. welcomed the participants to the conference which is organised by Beirut-based Arabic Language International Council under the theme "Investment in Arabic Language, Its National, Arab and International Future", H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. He also expressed his wishes for success for the participant in their quest for solutions that are in the interest of Arabic, the language of Holy Quean which was revealed to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also urged Arab elites, scholars and Arabic linguists and researchers to join forces, coordinate their efforts and bolster communication between relevant institutions, universities and education and culture ministries to lay the foundations for scientific and practical for the promotion of Arabic among the youth in order to encourage them to learn, understand and communicate using their mother tongue. He also emphasised the importance of translation, relevant training and the organisation of specialised workshops to benefit the Arab youth.

Participants expressed their pride in Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's efforts to preserve and promote the use of the language of Holy Quran. They commended his national and pan-Arab initiatives which culminated in the recent launch of Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award, which reflects his keen interest in promoting Arabic, the carrier of the cultural, Islamic, historical and civilisational identity for the Arab world.

On the fringe of the tow-day conference taking place at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel, and in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also received ministers, scholars and experts taking part in the event.

The conference is part of Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid's aspiration to enhance the importance and position of the Arabic language due to the significance of the language?s cultural, historical and civilisational identity for the Arab world.

The conference is also part of the U.A.E. Vision 2021, which strives to make U.A.E. a centre of excellence for the Arabic language.

Present at the meeting were Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shibani, Director of Dubai Ruler's Court, Lt. General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai, Abdul Ghaffar Hussain, an Emirati journalist and writer, Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai, officials, scholars, educationalists from U.A.E. and Arab countries.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, read out the opening speech on behalf of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Welcoming the participants to U.A.E., he conveyed to them regards sent from President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and noted his keen interest making Arabic the solid foundation for successful national and pan-Arab progress.

He noted that H.H. Sheikh Khalifa recommends the optimal use of this mother tongue which represents a huge potential for the making of our national and Arab identity, expresses the spirit of the nation and forges its present and future.

Sheikh Nahyan described Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award as a source of pride for all Arabs as it will effectively contribute to the forging of national, Arab national and international future of Arabic, the focus of the current conference.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2014.