Yunus joins Dubai ruler to help shape UAE’s welfare project

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 From left, Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus attend the launch of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation in Dubai on October 4. Photo: Yunus Centre
From left, Prime Minister of UAE Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister for Culture, Youth and Social Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus attend the launch of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation in Dubai on October 4. Photo: Yunus Centre

The UAE is seeking assistance from Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus in designing a massive welfare programme it launched on Sunday to combat poverty, empower communities, spread knowledge and foster innovation in 116 nations.

On Sunday, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, launched the Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, a foundation combining several organisations.

The initiatives will have an annual budget of $270 million and will focus on four key areas: spreading knowledge; combating poverty; empowering communities; and innovation for the future.

The initiatives will target over 130 million people over the coming years and will focus its programmes on the Arab region.

During the launch of the initiatives, Maktoum sought help from the founder of Grameen Bank, as he wants the foundation to be inspired by the work of the Bangladeshi economist to help the poor overcome poverty.

During their discussion, Maktoum spoke to Yunus about the future programmes of the foundation and requested him to help him shape its agenda, Yunus Centre said in a statement yesterday.

The Gulf News quoted the Dubai ruler as saying: “The Arab region is undergoing massive challenges. We will not turn our backs on our region. We will provide our support and bring hope for our youth.”

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