Dubai, Oct., 8th, 2007 (WAM)--The Young Arab Leaders UAE Chapter (YAL-UAE) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zayed University (ZU) to partner with the UK-based consultancy, EUCLID, to launch the first bilingual website on the rich cultural heritage of the UAE.

The EUCLID is a global information, research and consultancy service provider for the arts and cultural sector. The MoU was signed by Mohammed Khammas, Vice Chairman of the YAL-UAE Chapter, and Dr. Suleiman Al Jassim, Vice Chancellor of ZU.

Under the agreement, YAL-UAE will enlist the support of ZU students to generate content for the website. In addition, voluntary researchers from schools and universities across the emirates will also contribute to the initiative. A special team of experts has been assigned to work on a proposal to create a digital platform illustrating the country's diverse cultural aspects.

Mohammed said: "As part of the directive issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, YAL is mandated to highlight the rich and diverse culture of the Arab world.

"Partnering with EUCLID will help us reach out to a wider audience of art lovers, beyond our domestic borders. In addition, the alliance will also bridge the gap between the local art and the international media, which is one of YAL-UAE's key objectives," he addedYAL members, Muna Al Gurg, Director of Marketing, ESAG Group and Aisha Al Kharusi, Deputy Director of Strategic Analysis, Boeing International, will lead the initiative to create a pioneering model for the Arab world in general and the UAE in particular.

Dr. Al Jassim said: "ZU and YAL-UAE will work together to encourage students to undertake meaningful community research and development projects. This initiative will have far-reaching impacts as the YAL-UAE will tap the resources of ZU's homegrown talent."In her capacity as head of Cultural Initiative, YAL-UAE, Muna Al-Gurg, emphasised the importance of culture as a way of life in the UAE society. "Our lifestyle, language and culture form the fabric of our community. With the phenomenal development in technology, it is essential to conserve the history of our indigenous population, and preserve its past while meeting the future."Young Arab Leaders (YAL) is an independent pan-Arab organization that aims to create a new generation of young leaders capable of actively participating in the region's development process and driving it into a new phase of growth and development. It is a network of the region's leaders from the business community, politics, academia, media, arts, culture and all other areas of civil society, who are committed to improving the state of the Arab world.