Dubai, November 26, 2012: Launched yesterday morning, The Arab Thought Foundation's conference "FIKR11 - Citizens and Government: Future Vision", is being held in Dubai for the second consecutive year. Day one of the conference saw a "Youth Café" meeting - a platform given by the Arab Youth Foundation to conduct dialogue, discussion and exchange of ideas; the launch of a new project called "Let's Rise with Our Language"; and the launch of the Fifth Annual Arabic Cultural Development Report.

The new batch of Youth Ambassadors was also announced in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Khalid AlFaisal and Bandar Bin Khalid AlFaisal. The new youth ambassadors for 2013 will be working on the deployment of the Foundation's vision in their own countries and to activate the youth efforts in their communities. "Let's Rise with Our Language" is a project designed to enhance the use of the Arabic language and strengthen its position in areas such as national security.

Speaking at the event, His Royal Highness Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Chairman of Arab Thought Foundation, called for all Arabs to stand up to the sweeping wave which is threatening the Arabic language and identity. His Royal Highness emphasised the importance of saving the Arabic language and the identity it represents. "We were dominant in the past and this made the Arabic language the flagship of culture and civilization. Today, we are exposed to strong political and cultural dominance by other languages, especially English." he added. His Royal Highness Prince Khalid also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, for his efforts and initiatives to support the endurance of the Arabic language.

The event also witnessed the launch of the Fifth Annual Arabic Cultural Development Report. Themed "The Arabic Knowledge-Based Economy", the report is considered to be first of its kind to be launched by the Arabic Cultural Foundation with Arabic funding. It covers the status of cultural development in 20 Arabic countries.

These two projects of The Arab Thought Foundation were launched with the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Khalid AlFaisal, Chairman, Arab Thought Foundation, His Excellency the UAE Minister of Culture, Youth, and Community Development Abdul Rahman Mohammed bin Nasser Al Owais, Jordan's Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications, Mr. Samih Maaytah,  Her Excellency The Bahraini Minister of Culture and the President of the current  Cycle of the Arab Ministers of Culture  Sheikha Mai bint Mohammed Al-Khalifa, Dr. Ziyad Al Drais Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of UNESCO, heads of language academies, senior intellectuals, academics, and  journalists.

Arab Thought Foundation is an international, independent, non-profit organization; it has neither governmental affiliation nor partisan or sectarian orientations. It strives to join intellect and capital together in order to reinforce pride in the nation constants, principles, values ​​and morals conformingly with the responsible freedom approach. It is involved in different areas of knowledge such as science, medicine, economics, management, media, and literature. It seeks to unite the intellectual and cultural efforts advocating for, promoting and maintaining Arab solidarity and identity.

For further information, please contact:
Janan Bakhache
Sponsor Relations Manager
Tel: +961 1 997100
Fax: +961 1 997101
Email: janan@fikrconferences.org

Tanya Haroun
Impact Porter Novelli
Tel: +97155 9563435
Email: t.haroun@ipn.ae

© Press Release 2012