Today's Edition
Taha Haseeb (Abu Dhabi)
The 20th edition of the Aletihad Forum, organised by the Aletihad News Center, will convene Tuesday on the occasion of the 56th anniversary of Aletihad newspaper, which was founded on October 20, 1969. The forum, themed “UAE: Global Leadership in Peacebuilding”, will be held at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities.
Dr Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer, emphasised that the annual Aletihad Forum has consolidated its position as a platform for dialogue, exchange of ideas and future outlooks, through a central theme placed under the lens of analysis and research. Choosing “UAE: Global Leadership in Peacebuilding” as the theme for the 20th forum aligns with what the region and the world need in terms of calm and stability, for a better future that provides opportunities for cooperation, development, investment, prosperity and innovation, Dr Al Kaabi added.
Through its sessions and the contributions of participants, the forum will offer insights into the UAE’s steps, endeavours and efforts to promote peace, defuse crises and curb conflicts. The forum will also highlight the UAE’s vision for peace and its achievements in sustainable development, future planning, driving innovation and harnessing technological advancements for the benefit of humanity, making it an inspiring model of a country that has invested in peace for the benefit of its people.
The forum’s activities include a welcome address by Dr Al Kaabi, and a speech by Dr Khalifa Al Dhaheri, Chancellor of the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities.
A Civilisational Message
Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, Deputy Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, will deliver a keynote address explaining “How the UAE Made Peace”.
He will emphasise that since 1971, the UAE has made the promotion of peace, security and stability an integral part of its cultural mission. For more than five decades, the country has continued to launch pioneering initiatives to serve humanity, making peace a legacy deeply rooted in its national and diplomatic policy.
Practical Steps to Promote Peace
In its 20th edition, the forum celebrates contributions that document the analyses of foreign experts on the UAE’s steps in promoting peace through mediation in conflict resolution and humanitarian support in crisis areas.
Within this framework, Sergey Baburin, Scientific Director of the Centre for Integration and Civilizational Studies at the Institute of State and Law and former deputy of the Russian State Duma, will speak during the forum’s main session. He will discuss global peacemaking and the UAE’s efforts in mediation and humanitarian work.
Institutions for Peacebuilding
During the first session, titled “Peace as the Core of the UAE’s Development Policy”, Professor Radwan El Sayed, Dean of the College of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research at the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, will present a paper titled “The UAE’s Development Initiatives in the Spirit of Peace”.
He will discuss the UAE’s success in building institutions and developing programmes and initiatives to promote peace and combat extremism, including the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, the Muslim Council of Elders, and Hedayah, the International Centre of Excellence For Countering Extremism and Violent Extremism, among others.
Prof. El Sayed will emphasise the importance of the Human Fraternity Document, signed in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019, as it established an institutional framework for interfaith dialogue and peacebuilding, and for spreading a culture of tolerance and coexistence.
Mauritanian academic Dr Seyid Ould Abah will present a paper in the first session on “The Values of Peace as a Strategic Bet for the UAE”.
He will affirm that the UAE’s peace policies are not ideological slogans, but rather an essential value and a fundamental reference, stemming from a deep belief in cooperation and solidarity, rejecting attempts to resolve conflicts by force, and confronting all forms of violence, hatred and intolerance.
Dr Ould Abah will highlight that the UAE has sought to spread a culture of peace and tolerance by all means, viewing it as the right path to building a secure world free of wars and conflicts.
Peace: A Virtue of Civilisation
In a paper titled “Civilisation is Born of Peace,” Saudi writer and researcher Abdullah bin Bijad Al-Otaibi, will assert that no development can begin or flourish except in an environment of peace and stability. Al-Otaibi will reaffirm that civilisation can only flourish and develop in peace, quoting philosopher Victor Hugo: “Peace is the virtue of civilisation. War is its crime.”
Practical Steps
Under the title “The UAE: Clear Roles in Promoting Peace”, the second session addresses the mediation efforts undertaken by the country in conflict zones and its role in achieving peace between conflicting parties.
Under the title “Peace: The Future of the World”, Kuwaiti writer and academic Dr Issa Al Omairi will present a paper stressing that the future of the world cannot be built on conflict and disputes but rather on values of understanding, mutual respect, and cooperation among nations and peoples. Therefore, adherence to the principle of peace and not abandoning it is a human and moral necessity, not merely a passing political choice.
Al Omairi will present peace as an enduring value and a fundamental pillar of modern international relations, as it opens the doors to sustainable development.
With a paper titled “The UAE’s Role in Achieving Peace in the Caucasus Region,” Russian journalist Tatiana Kukhareva will highlight the UAE’s diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote peace in conflict zones.
The second session, titled “The UAE’s Clear Roles in Promoting Peace” will feature a presentation by Joberto de Sant’Anna, adviser to the former President of Brazil, on the role of preventive diplomacy in sustaining peace and confronting international challenges.
The session will also feature a presentation by Ethiopian academic and media professional Solomon Muchie on mediation efforts to bring peace to the Horn of Africa.
Youth Vision
With the participation of students from the Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, and under the theme “The Role of Youth in Building a Culture of Peace”, the third session will explore peace and development indicators in the UAE and highlight the elements of excellence within Emirati society.
The session will explore young people’s ideas on tools for spreading this culture. It will also examine the incentives for academic excellence, innovation and investment that characterize Emirati society.
A Platform for Dialogue and Exchange
Since its launch in 2006, the annual Aletihad Forum has reinforced the newspaper’s distinguished standing. Guided by a spirit of dialogue and intellectual exchange, the Forum mobilises ideas and insights to engage with emerging global and societal developments. Each year, it reaffirms its awareness-building mission through informed discussions that commemorate the newspaper’s anniversary, showcase diverse perspectives, and remain attuned to contemporary issues.
The Forum thus serves as a vibrant platform that enriches open and constructive thought – one that fosters coexistence, inspires innovation, and encourages practical reflection on the future.
