Juma Al Majid Opens Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition at Dubai Healthcare City

DHCC's Tribute to Arab Forefathers in Science and Medicine

Dubai: 31 May, 2010 - His Excellency Juma Al Majid, Chairman of Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, inaugurated the Islamic and Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition at Dubai Healthcare City, a member of TECOM Investments, featuring renowned forefathers of science and medicine.

Following an opening ceremony, dignitaries toured the gallery that features unique prints of pioneers such as Abdul Hasan Kamaluddin Hasan bin Ali Alfarisi, Abu Ali Al-Hussain bin Abdullah bin Ali Ibn Sina, Abu Raihan Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Beiruni, Abu Nasr Mohammad Awzlag Al-Farabi and Abu Zaid Hunain bin Ishaq Al-Ibadi.

Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director, Sciences Cluster, TECOM Investments, said: "As pioneers of a unique community in Dubai that is dedicated to excellence in medicine, Dubai Healthcare City is the most appropriate location for celebrating pioneers in science and medicine. Validating this fact is our initiative to name the buildings in Dubai Healthcare City after many of our renowned ancestors including the Al Razi Building where the exhibition is being held. In addition, through our sister entity DuBiotech, we are developing the first major life sciences hub in the Middle East.

"Through his vision, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has successfully established the hub in Dubai for world class science and medicine with projects such as DuBiotech and Dubai Healthcare City. We are keen to carry forward the rich legacy handed down to us by our forefathers in innovation and discovery for generations to come."

Dr. Abdullah added: "We are grateful to the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage for its support and commitment to increasing awareness on the rich Arab culture. We are proud of our Islamic and Arab ancestors whose great achievements have both inspired and heavily influenced science and medicine around the world today."

His Excellency Juma Al Majid said: "This exhibition is a demonstration of the rich wealth that has been offered by the Arab world to humanity at large. Even today, we have a number of Arab scientists who continue to lead research around the world. This exhibition is only a first glimpse on what our forefathers have achieved in the medicine and science field. The exposition offered by the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage to DHCC confirms our commitment to maintaining that legacy."

The Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition, supported by Index Conferences and Events and sponsored by Julphar, provides guests an opportunity to appreciate the significant contribution the Arab world has made to science and medicine.

Abul Hasan Kamaluddin Hasan bin Ali Alfarisi from the 13^th century produced a number of writings in different branches of mathematics, but is best known for his contribution to Optics. He also formulated the first mathematically sound explanation of the rainbow.

Abu Ali Al-Hussain bin Abdullah bin Ali Ibn Sina, known as the Prince of Physicians (980-1037) remains one of the most influential thinkers in world history. His Canon of Medicine is a compendium of Islamic and Greek medical knowledge of his time, and contains many original observations such as the spread of diseases by water and soil.

Abu Raihan Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Beiruni (973-1048) was one of the earliest proponents of the objective, experimental scientific method, and has been called the father of geodesy, the founder of Indology, and the first anthropologist. His Pharmacolgy was celebrated for its in-depth study of medicinal herbs and minerals. Abu Nasr Mohammad bin Awzlag Al-Farabi (872-950/1 AD) is known for his contribution to the mathematical art of music and cosmology. Al-Farabi believed that science is the highest stage of human wisdom and that, for it to thrive, it is essential to foster at all times a sense of critical understanding, order and purpose.

Abu Zaid Hunain bin Ishaq Al-Ibadi (810-873 AD) is the fifth forefather to be featured in the Arab Pioneers Health and Science Gallery. An important component of Hunayn's prodigious scientific activity was sourcing and studying works from Greek antiquity and producing translations into Arabic and Syriac. He was known in his time as `the sheikh of the translators', and his translations (later used by Ibn Sina and others) helped form the foundation on which Islamic medicine was built.

Free to the public, the Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition will be on permanent display at the Al Razi Building, Block B at Dubai Healthcare City from 1 June 2010 from 8.00am-8.00pm daily.

The full list of Arab pioneers featured in the exhibition is:

1. Abul Hasan Kamaluddin Hasan bin Ali Alfarisi (died 1318)

2. Abu Ali Al-Hussain bin Abdullah bin Ali Ibn Sina (Avicenna), known as the Prince of Physicians

3. Abu Raihan Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Beiruni was born in 973 AD

4. Abu Nasr Mohammad bin Awzlag Al-Farabi (874-950 AD)

5. Abu Zaid Hunain bin Ishaq Al-Ibadi (810-873 AD)

6. Abu Ali Mohammad bin Al-Haitham Al-Basri was born in 956 and died in 1037.

7. Abu Said Ubaidullah bin Gibrail bin Bakhtaishu (died about 1061 AD)

8. Abu Musa Jabir bin Hayyan bin Abdullah Al-Azdi Al-Kufi (died 815 AD), known as the Mystic (Sufi),

9. Abu Bakr Abdulazeez bin Ismail Al-Razzaz Al-Jazari (died 1205 AD)

10. Abu Abdullah Mohammad bin Musa Al-Khawarizmi (died c. 848 AD),

11. Abul Faraj Yaqub bin Isahq Al-Karki, prominent Arab surgeon

12. (Abu Bakr Muhammad bin Zakraiya ar-Razi) 865 - 925 AD

13. Al-Tabari, Abu Hassan Ali bin Rabban (...-869 AD)

14. Abu al-Qasim Khalaf bin Abbas al-Zahrawi, known in the West as Abulcasis

15. Abu Marwan Abdul Malik bin Zuhr was born in 1072 and died in 1162 AD

-Ends-

About Dubai Healthcare City
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), a member of TECOM Investments was conceived as the location of choice for quality healthcare and an integrated center of excellence for clinical and wellness services, medical education and research in the Middle East. It is the world's first healthcare free zone and consists of two phases. The first phase of 4.1 million square feet is now operational with a medical cluster of day-care and outpatient clinics, diagnostic centers, rehabilitation centers, transplantation centers, hospitals and pharmaceutical and equipment suppliers.

DHCC is home to over 90 respected facilities operating to the highest international standards including: The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center (AMC), The City Hospital, Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Center, the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, Dr. Nicolas & ASP, London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery, Dubai Gynaecology and Fertility Centre, Mughrabi Eye Hospital and the German Heart Center. World-leading pharmaceutical companies are also based in DHCC such as Wyeth, Sanofi Aventis, Novartis, AstraZeneca, and Novo Nordisk.

The second phase will feature a dedicated wellness cluster comprised of Wellness centers, Nutrition centers, Resorts, Spas, and Sports Medicine facilities.

For further information, please contact:
Maya El-Hachem
Account Manager
Jiwin Public Relations
Tel: 00971 4 3692925
Email: Maya.Elhachem@Jiwin.ae