Arab Reading Challenge 2018 attracts 10.5 million participants

Source: Dubai Media Office. Participants of the Arab Reading
Challenge at the closing ceremony for the event. Amjoun is in
centre, with HH Sheikh Mohammed.

The Al-Ikhlas School from Kuwait has received the Outstanding School award and a cash prize of AED1 million to develop its educational capacities at the third edition of the Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai, UAE, while Aisha al-Tuwairqi from KSA won the Outstanding Supervisor title and a cash prize of AED300,000 in recognition of her efforts as an inspirational teacher.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said, “A river starts with many drops, and the participants of the Arab Reading Challenge are the first drops in the river of knowledge that we look forward to discovering in every corner of the Arab world and beyond. We rely on the reading champions to help us build a knowledge-based future for the region.

“The finalists of the competition have become role models for millions of Arab students in their keen interest in acquiring knowledge and their determination to succeed. Every book read by the contestants serves as a gateway to communicate with the people of the world.” 


HH Sheikh Mohammed added: “Books are the source of ideas and values for the next generations. A generation that reads is a promising one, and a nation that reads is one that invests in the future. Reading creates global citizens who care deeply about making the world a better place.

“The participation of 10.5 million students is indeed a great accomplishment for all those who have supported our initiative. The Arab Reading Challenge is just a start. I call on everyone who has the means to do so to launch similar literacy and knowledge projects in the Arab world.”

Five schools – Al-Ikhlas School, Mujamma al-Salam School from KSA, Abdulhamid Dar Abid Sidi Ali High School from Algeria, Al-Wehda High School from Morocco and Al-Awda Girls’ School from Palestine – competed for the Outstanding School title.

All 7,871 students of Al-Ikhlas School participated in this year’s Arab Reading Challenge. The school has adopted an innovative approach to instilling a culture of reading among its students as well as in the community, including people with special needs, earning it the title of Outstanding School. In addition to launching six literacy initiatives in Kuwait and two abroad, it organised the Sana al-Ikhlas literacy drive, 12 workshops, seven reading trips, 10 literacy events and motivational campaigns, and more than 140 studies and debates.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, presented Morocco student Maryam Amjoun, the cash prize of AED500,000 as champion of the third edition of the Arab Reading Challenge in Dubai, UAE.

Maryam Amjoun from Morocco, champion of the Arab Reading Challenge 2018, impressed the audience with her confident interaction with the jury and her profound knowledge, manifested in her eloquent expression. She highlighted the crucial role of reading in shaping knowledgeable individuals that are ready to contribute to society, participate in development and generate knowledge. In recognition of her exceptional abilities, Amjoun received the highest numbers of votes from the audience, matched by the jury’s assessment.

Other finalists included Qassam Sbeih from Palestine, who received a standing ovation for his statement that reading to him is life and has given him the determination to achieve his ambitions. Meanwhile, Mohammad Khaled Hussein from Jordan expressed his wish to continue acquiring knowledge and shared his aspiration to become a scientist and win the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Ecofriendly fashion labels highlighted at Arab Fashion Week

Following the highly successful first edition of Arab Fashion Week (AFW) in Riyadh, KSA earlier this season, the Arab Fashion Council (AFC) held the sixth edition of Arab Fashion Week in Dubai, UAE.

The biannual event, that took place on 9 to 12 May on board the historical Queen Elizabeth 2 ship, attracted more than 15,000 visitors and featured a total of 21 fashion shows.

     

Source: PRNewsfoto/Arab Fashion Week. Twenty-one
international and regional fashion designers
showcased their collections at the 6th Arab Fashion
Week in Dubai, UAE.

As one of the first and only platforms in the world dedicated to promoting resort and 'ready-couture' collections, Arab Fashion Week presented international and regional talent including Amato Couture (UAE), Tony Miranda (Portugal), Tatiana V. Layalina (Russia), Aiisha Ramadan (UAE), J by Jordy (UK), Ilse Jara (Paraguay), Humariff (Russia), Maison Lesley (Lebanon), Fllumae (US), Aram by Arwa Al Ammari (KSA), Renato Balestra (Italy), Sophia Nubes (Switzerland), Villafane (Argentina), Nicole+Felicia (Taiwan), House of MuaMua (Italy), Asmaraïa (Russia), Harmony (Armenia) and Simone Racioppo (Italy), and Asory House (Egypt).

The Arab Fashion Council also introduced the AFC Green Label initiative that supports emerging ecofriendly labels by showcasing their work during AFW. The first 'green' designers to present their collections were Italian-born Bav Tailor and Croatian label Krie Design with plans for more ecofriendly brands to participate in the next editions of AFW later this year.

Arab Fashion Week will return later this year with its Riyadh and Dubai editions in October and November 2018 respectively.

Arab youth overwhelmingly support change in KSA

- Youth across the region expect the Saudi Crown Prince to have a bigger impact on the region over the next 10 years than any other Arab leader

- Survey finds young people in KSA and across the region back the decision to allow Saudi women to drive and fully support anti-corruption crackdown

- Young Saudis are highly confident that KSA's Vision 2030 will be a success

- Majority of Arab youth say Daesh (ISIS) and its ideology are heading for total defeat

Source: ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. From left: Professor Fletcher, HE Al Hashimy, Khorshid, John, and Aldakhil.

Arab youth expect KSA Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to have a bigger impact on the Middle East than any other Arab leader, according to the 10th annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2018, released May 8.

“Over the past 10 years, the Arab Youth Survey has provided insights into many momentous changes in the region, and this year is no exception,” said Donna Imperato, CEO, Burson Cohn & Wolfe. “This annual review of the thoughts and concerns of Arab youth provides an important framework for understanding what is most important to the region’s next generation of business leaders and policy makers.”

The ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey is the largest survey of its kind of the Middle East’s largest demographic – its youth. For the 10th annual survey, international polling firm PSB Research conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with men and women aged 18-24 in 16 Arab states between January 21 and February 20, 2018. This year’s findings, marking 10 years of the Arab Youth Survey, shed light on young people’s attitudes on the past decade, which has encompassed the global financial crisis, the Arab Spring, the rise of Daesh (ISIS) and a fall in global oil prices, as well as their aspirations for the next 10 years.

Support for Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman

Young Arabs throughout the Middle East express a high level of confidence in the Crown Prince and his leadership, with 63% supporting his appointment, 64% viewing him as a strong leader, and 59% saying Prince Mohammed will lead KSA in the right direction. Young Arabs are also throwing their support behind Saudi Arabia’s young Crown Prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, and view him as the Arab leader likely to have the greatest impact on the region over the next 10 years. 

Support for the new Crown Prince among Saudi youth is overwhelming, with 91% of young Saudis supporting his appointment, 97% considering him a strong leader, and 90% saying he will move the country in the right direction.

Sunil John, founder of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller and President, Middle East, Burson Cohn & Wolfe, said: “This is a milestone survey for us, marking a full decade of the region’s leading study into its most important demographic.

“This year’s edition is titled A Decade of Hopes & Fears and features insights into young people’s concerns over jobs, education, security and corruption. Looking forward to the next decade, it’s clear that Mohammed bin Salman represents great hope for young Arabs across the region who demand to see clear action on these pressing issues.”

Approval for KSA reforms

Young Arabs also expressed strong support for KSA's recent reforms, with 88% across the region supporting the decision to allow women to drive and 86% (94% among young Saudis) supporting the anti-corruption drive, which saw dozens of businessmen and senior royals detained over graft allegations.

Asked about Saudi Vision 2030, the Crown Prince’s roadmap to diversify the Saudi economy, 92% of young Saudis say they are confident that the plan will succeed in securing the future of the Saudi economy.

Young Saudis are also extremely optimistic about their futures, with 91% saying their country is moving in the right direction, compared to 54% of young Arabs across the region, and 13% of youth in the Levant. More than four in five (82%) of young Saudis also say their best days are ahead of them.

Daesh (ISIS) is a step backward

The majority of young Arabs (55%) say they believe the region has moved in the wrong direction over the past decade – a period stamped by the Arab Spring and the rise of Daesh. Pessimism is particularly pronounced in the Levant, where 85% say the region has moved in the wrong direction. Defeating terrorism, providing well-paying jobs, better education and fighting corruption are all cited by youth as the main action areas to move things back on track over the next decade. 

The majority (78%) of Arab youth say Daesh has become weaker over the past year while 58% say Daesh and its ideology will be completely defeated. It marks a significant shift from 2015 when 47% of young Arabs expressed any confidence in their government’s ability to deal with the terrorist 

organisation. 

UAE is top ally

When asked to name their country’s top allies, young Arabs are most likely to cite the UAE (37%), followed by KSA (35%) and Kuwait (22%). The US has dropped out of the top five for first time in the survey’s history, falling to 11th place. 

This finding stands in contrast to the response from young Arabs when asked which country other than their own they would most like to live in, and which they would like their own nation to emulate, where the US ranks second, behind the UAE. 

The UAE has been the top country to live in for the 7th year running. More than one in three (35%) respondents across the 16 Arab countries polled say the UAE is the country they would most like to live in, surpassing global powers like the US and Canada (both 18%) and KSA (16%). More than a third (37%) of Arab youth also say the UAE is a model country for their own, far surpassing the US and Canada (both 17%) or Japan (15%). 

Other key findings from the ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2018 include: 

• Youth in the Levant have an increasingly bleak outlook compared with peers in North Africa and the Gulf States 

• Youth say the past decade – shaped by the Arab Spring and Daesh – has left the Middle East drifting off course

• To steer the region in the right direction, action is needed on jobs, education, corruption and the fight against terror

• While young Arabs increasingly turn to social media for their news, they see CNN as the most trusted and Al Jazeera as the least trusted news sources 

• Inspired by the digital revolution, future Arab entrepreneurs turn to the tech sector, which offers plentiful opportunities in the region 

In the UAE:

• Young Emiratis are overwhelmingly positive about the direction of their country, and believe their best days are yet to come 

• Young Arabs view the UAE as the top ally while Emirati youth see KSA, Egypt, and Kuwait as their country’s strongest allies 

• Nearly three in four (71%) young Emiratis say they support the 5% value added tax (VAT) introduced by the UAE government in January 2018. 

Young Emiratis agree with the positive perceptions of the UAE across the region, with 99% of the UAE’s youth saying their country is heading in the right direction and more than four in five (85%) saying their best days are ahead of them. 

The findings align with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network’s 2018 World Happiness Report, which ranks the UAE as the happiest Arab country and 20th out of 156 countries overall. The UAE also leads the region in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business table, and, according to the World Economic Forum, is first among the GCC states for gender equality. 

John said: “Throughout the survey’s history, the UAE has consistently been chosen by Arab youth as the nation that best fits their aspirations. As one of the first countries in the region to focus on diversifying the economy to create better opportunities for its young people, the UAE continues to inspire the region with its future-focused vision.” 

The UAE leads by example with youth-focused policies, HE Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, and Director General, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau, said at the unveiling of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey. 

HE Al Hashimy noted that one of the most significant findings in this year’s survey was the level of support for HH Prince Mohammed bin Salman among Arab youth and his programme of economic and social development. She went on to highlight the ambition of Arab youth, adding: “The UAE has launched a number of initiatives that activate hope among youth, which reiterates the desire of the government to open fresh opportunities for young people by working directly with them.” 

HE Al Hashimy said it is the UAE’s strategy to integrate and engage with young people, and youth engagement was a priority for Expo 2020 Dubai. “Nearly 30% of the employees at Expo 2020 are below the age of 30. We have a department dedicated to youth affairs, Youth Connect, and to promoting Expo 2020 Dubai in schools and universities. Volunteering is another major part of the expo – and a major focus of our volunteers programme are young people."

Turki bin Abdullah Aldakhil, GM, Al Arabiya News Channel, commented on the finding that young Arabs see Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as a strong leader who will shape the next decade. “Arab youth believe in his role in fighting extremism. They see him as a one of them, someone who thinks like them, and as someone who has broken the stereotype of a rigid political leader,” Aldakhil said. 

“It is not only His Highness’ development mindset that inspires youth but also because he wants to present the real Islam to the world, as many Arab youth were embarrassed to express their religion because of the way in which Daesh represented Islam.” 

On the observation that an increasing number of Arab youth perceive the Arab Spring to have impacted the region negatively, Dalia Khorshid, former Investment Minister of Egypt, said the Arab Spring was a wave of change and “an expression of how youth wanted to dictate their future and create the environment they want”. 

She said: “Egypt marked 2016 as the Year of Youth, when the government focused on listening to young people and discussing various issues. There are bound to be differences but it is healthy. The key aspect is to understand that youth aspire to make a difference, and with digital technology, things are going to change faster.” 

Professor Tom Fletcher CMG, Visiting Professor of International Relations at NYUAD and Visiting Professor and Special Advisor, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, said the real challenge for governments anywhere is that young people globally are finding it harder to trust the generation in office to leave the world in a better shape than it is today – with the exception of some countries, such as the UAE and KSA. He added that “the magnetic quality of the UAE to attract people is a result of the opportunities that the nation creates”. 

He also emphasised the need for “getting the education system right” to ensure that “women are not just behind the steering wheel of cars but also steering the boardrooms.” “What we learn from the digital age is that popularity is easy to gain, hard to hold on to and easier still to lose,” he said, stressing that it is important for leaders to “continue to deliver and take the people with them - thinking of the long-term”.

Details:

Read more results and download the white paper about the Arab Youth Survey

*Interviews were conducted with exclusively Arab national men and women in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain; Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, the Palestinian territories, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen. The sample comprised 50% male and 50% female respondents. The Levant region typically refers to the countries of Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey.

New push to eradicate illiteracy in the Arab World

Source: MBRF. HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, VP and PM of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and MBRF Chairman Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as well as Jordan’s Prime Minister Dr Hani Al Mulqi, the Guest of Honour at the launch of the Literacy in the Arab World initiative.

The Literacy in the Arab World initiative has been launched to eradicate illiteracy from the region by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) in collaboration with UNESCO, the United Nations Development Programme and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiative at the Knowledge Summit 2017 in Dubai, UAE. The project aims to provide 30 million Arab youth under the age of 18 with the right to education by 2030.

MBRF CEO Jamal Bin Huwaireb said that education is the best tool to fight ignorance and extremism. He said, “It is the only way for the development and wellbeing of our people and societies. We’re confident the summit will constitute a roadmap for building and advancing knowledge-based societies in our Arab region. Such societies are built on innovation and creativity.”

Delivering the keynote address at the summit, Jordan’s Prime Minister Dr Hani Al Mulqi said that economic, social, and human structure must be developed to tackle challenges like cybersecurity and growing unemployment.

“We need to focus more on developing the education system and meeting technological development. Jordan has started implementing the 2025 (Sustainable Development) Goals. Youth in Jordan constitutes two-third of the total population, there is a lot of demand for jobs. So it’s very important to have skillful youth that are specialised in technology and innovation to get the opportunities they want and to have more knowledge disseminated in the region,” he said.

The Knowledge Summit 2017, held under the theme Knowledge and the 4th Industrial Revolution, brought together decision makers, thinkers, experts and pioneers in the knowledge industry, as well as scientists, academics and specialists from all around the world, to discuss pressing issues and challenges facing the industry, review best practices and experiences and offer solutions to meet the challenges.

Hashtags: #KnowledgeSummit, #4IR

Image Nation Abu Dhabi presents On Arab Geographies

Image Nation Abu Dhabi, a media and entertainment company, and independent film platform Cinema Akil, are presenting for the first time in Abu Dhabi On Arab Geographies, a film programme dedicated to showcasing films from across the Arab world and beyond. The programme aims to showcase a broad spectrum of critically-acclaimed contemporary Arab films around the notion of geography.

The programme is curated by Rabih El Khoury, Program Manager of Talents Beirut, a Programmer at ALFILM the Arab Film Festival in Berlin, Germany and a member of the administrative board of the Metropolis Association. On Arab Geographies will screen a total of eight films that include feature length and short narratives, documentaries from UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Iraq, Tunisia and Lebanon, among others.

Gehad Darwish, spokesman from Image Nation Abu Dhabi said: “Our vision at Image Nation is to create opportunities for Arab talent to tell their stories, and provide them with the right platform to showcase, network and share their ideas with the audience. It is also an opportunity for local audiences to discover the breadth and depth of Arab films and support their local filmmakers. We are very pleased with this collaboration with Cinema Akil and the great selection of films and narratives curated by the brilliant Rabih El Khoury.”

The lineup will showcase titles including Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s documentary feature Zainab Hates the Snow and Amna Al Nowais’s short film, Omnia.

The programme will also include panel discussions and Q&A sessions with the filmmakers and film experts that shed light on the opportunities and challenges of film-making in the region, plus discussions on the different geographies of the Arab world.

El Khoury also commented: “This programme aims to be a travelogue throughout the Arab world and beyond. A journey that is not only shaped by mobility and movement within a set of geographical entities, but also one that is led by internal wanderings, and individual efforts to find hope.”


Butheina Kazim, Co-Founder and MD of Cinema Akil said: “The main objective of the programme is to cater to an increasingly wide audience interested in contemporary Arab cinema and storytelling in addition to adding to the thriving cultural scene in Abu Dhabi. The programme is also in line with Cinema Akil and Image Nation Abu Dhabi’s shared vision of providing a consistent platform for showcasing contemporary Arab cinema.”

The On Arab Geographies film programme is aligned with the #SupportArabCinema campaign by Image Nation, which encourages local audiences to support Arab films and filmmakers in the region.

Interested?

The On Arab Geographies programme of screenings and talks will be held in Manarat Al Saadiyat, Abu Dhabi, UAE from 4 till 6 May, 2017.

The programme is open to the public and free of charge.

posted from Bloggeroid

Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, World Bank Group to focus on improving quality education to Arabs

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education, the largest privately funded foundation in the Arab world focused exclusively on education, and the World Bank Group have a new strategic partnership focused on improving the quality and relevance of education for Arab children and youth.

The partnership will be guided by the Education for Competitiveness initiative, or E4C, developed jointly by the World Bank Group and the Islamic Development Bank Group, with the support of regional and international partners. E4C offers transformative interventions to improve education systems. These include expanding early childhood development, strengthening early grade learning; promoting information for accountability, enhancing career guidance and opportunities, and boosting 21st century skills and values.

“With the support of our Chairman, Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, a renowned business leader, we are well positioned to develop programmes that respond to the needs of the job market. Through this partnership, we hope to encourage more foundations to take part in strategic efforts with governmental, multilateral, and civil society sectors to promote education innovation and achieve scale,” said Maysa Jalbout, CEO, Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education.

Youth unemployment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) stands at 25% for males and 47% for females—the highest of all regions across the world. While graduates cannot find jobs, more than one-third of employers in MENA identify skills shortages as a major constraint to business operation and firm growth. One of the main reasons for the skills mismatch is the quality of education. Learning outcomes in the region are among the lowest in the world as demonstrated in international assessments. In the 2015 Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), all MENA countries ranked below the international average, with only Dubai in the UAE scoring above the average.

“This partnership will bolster our regional efforts to achieve a high quality education and brighter future for all. Realising the promise of education for development is within our reach and our youth deserve nothing less,” said Hafez Ghanem, World Bank VP for the Middle East and North Africa.

The partnership follows the launch of a new Platform for Education announced by World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim, which will be hosted annually at the World Government Summit in Dubai. The platform will serve as a space to share global experience on education, launch new initiatives, and spark high-level debate and exchange among leaders, experts, and policymakers.

The Abdulla Al Ghurair Foundation for Education and the World Bank Group will leverage their expertise and partnerships, and focus their E4C partnership on improving school to work transition by enhancing career guidance and opportunities, and boosting 21st century skills to Arab youth. Some concrete examples include:

• Supporting a school counselling graduate programme that will train school counselors in college preparation and career guidance.

• Providing access to career guidance materials and resources online that are customised to the needs of students in the region.

• Offering educational opportunities for Arab youth, including skills development programmes, bootcamps, internships, mentoring, and research to better prepare them for jobs demanded in the region.

United Nations University hosts discussion on directions for the region post-Arab Spring

On 27 January 2017, the United Nations University (UNU) will host The Arab Spring: Six Years On, a conversation with Professor Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, Professor of International History of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Visiting Professor at the Doctoral School of Sciences Po Paris and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania.




Professor Mohamedou is well-positioned to discuss the topic as the author of Iraq and the Second Gulf War: State Building and Regime Security (2002) and Understanding Al Qaeda: The Transformation of War (2011), as well as Co-editor of Democratisation in the 21st Century: Reviving Transitology (2016). His research focuses on political violence and transnational terrorism, the transformation of warfare, political liberalisation and transitions to democracy, and contemporary Middle Eastern and North African sociopolitical developments and conflicts.

In the early months of 2011, the Middle East and North Africa embarked on a historic process of sociopolitical transformation, the “Arab Spring”, which sent large-scale reverberations throughout and beyond the region. In rapid and unexpected succession, long-established and seemingly well-entrenched authoritarian regimes collapsed, opening the way for difficult and often-violent transitions.

Professor Mohamedou will join UNU Rector David Malone in an exploration of the current state and future prospects of the region. The conversation aims to answer the questions:
 
Six years later, how do the “Arab Spring” social movements continue to fare?
Where are these political transitions heading, and what shape have the power configurations and the social pacts taken?
What are the implications for the rest of the world?

The event is part of the UNU Conversation Series, which encourages the audience to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception after.

Interested?

UNU Conversation Series: The Arab Spring: Six Years On
Date: 27 January 2017
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: UNU Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan

The event will be in English only; Japanese interpretation will not be provided.
Advance registration by 26 January is required. Register

Gen Z poised to disrupt Islamic markets: GIES

A panel discussion on Generation Z at the Global Islamic Economy Summit (GIES) has highlighted the characteristics of the generation after Millennials. Gen Z individuals have not experienced a time without the Internet or mobile phones, and other than being more technologically savvy, also have differences in outlook.

“The group is increasingly on the radar of governments who are beginning to question whether the existing education and employment ecosystem can cater to their expectations,” said Sunil John, CEO, ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. John quoted from the ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey 2016, which found that most young Arabs – 58% – want to further their education, and that more than a third of young Arabs – 36% – want to start their own businesses. Traditionally, young Arabs have looked to the government to provide them with jobs.

“These findings are really interesting in terms of the Gen Z effect,” he said. “We within government, within the Islamic economy, within the private sector and within civil society need to listen to these voices and make the right decisions on their behalf. If you really look at it, these are very positive findings. Government will see light at the end of the tunnel. They will see a young generation that has a hunger to be successful; people who have an appetite for education, and who want to start their own businesses.”


John added that change will not be gradual. While 95% of nationals in the UAE for example work in the public sector today, depressed job markets and unemployment rates in countries such as KSA mean that the public sector cannot continue as the main employer for long.

Marcie Merriman, Executive Director, Growth Strategy and Retail Innovation at Ernst & Young contrasted Generation Z and Millennials. Millennials, she said, expect companies to do the heavy lifting, and patronise firms they respect in terms of environmental and sustainable practices.

“When I talked to Generation Z, however, who I originally thought of as young Millennials, I began to see something very different: they immediately talked about what they were doing about the environment, as opposed to what the companies were doing.

“The key difference between these two groups, apart from age, was their self-awareness. Gen Z see themselves as having responsibility for their ecosystem, whereas Millennials were looking at others to do things.”

Commenting on their choice of employers Merriman said: “Gen Z has seen what has happened with Millennials. They say this isn’t going to happen to us, we’re not going to let other people tell us what to do. We’re going to take charge of it. And that’s what underlies the entrepreneurial spirit. They have nothing to lose.”

Amani Al Khatahtbeh, founder of Muslimgirl.net, a US website for Muslim women and herself a Millennial, agreed. “For Generation Z, a lot of industries are outdated. They want to be disruptors. They want to flip these institutions upside down, and that gives us a lot of hope.”

Al Khatahtbeh also pointed out that the global economy, and in particular Western brands have been co-opting Islamic identity for their own purpose. She said the brands may have generated publicity for themselves, but do not represent an authentic Muslim voice. “What are brands in it for: empowering Muslims, or exploiting them?” she asked.

Dolce & Gabana introduced a range of abayas for the Middle Eastern market as an example, she said.
“The model is a white-passing woman, who might not even be Muslim,” she said. “The fashion designers didn’t consult with a Muslim, and the range was only launched in the Middle East. It overlooked the US – a US$140 billion market for Muslims.”

Arab youth choose UAE as where they would like to live and set up a business

• UAE ahead of US and Germany
• Safety, security and economic opportunity cited as main reasons
• UAE also seen as best place in which to start a business

For the fifth consecutive year, the UAE has been named as the country in which most Arab youth would like to live and the country they would most like their own nation to emulate, according to the findings of the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey*.

The UAE is also viewed as a model country that is economically secure and is the most favoured nation to set up a business in the Arab world.

When asked to think about the country they would most like to live in, nearly one in four (22 per cent) of young Arabs cite the UAE, ahead of the United States (15 per cent), Germany (11 per cent), Saudi Arabia (11 per cent) and Canada (10 per cent). Likewise, when asked to think about the country they would most like their own to emulate, 23 per cent cite the UAE, ahead of the US (19 per cent), Germany (12%), France (10%) and the UK (10%).

Sunil John, CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller, said: “The UAE’s popularity among youth is likely a reflection of its status as a model country and regional political and economic safe haven. The nation has developed a global reputation for its robust and diversified economy, which encourages a 'can do' attitude among its residents and is respectful of religious and cultural diversity.”

To help better understand why the UAE consistently polls highest, the survey provided respondents a series of positive and negative phrases and asked them to choose the ones they associate with the UAE most. The top associations with the UAE revolve around safety, security and economic opportunities, with Safe and Secure cited as the number one reason by 36% of youth, followed by Has a Growing Economy, Wide Range of Work Opportunities and Generous Salary Packages, which were each cited by 29% of respondents.

This year, for the first time, the survey asked potential entrepreneurs – young Arabs who said they intend to start a business in the next five years – in which Arab country they would like to set up their business. The UAE ranked as the most preferred country with one in four (24%) citing it as the top business destination in the Arab world, followed by Saudi Arabia (18%) and Qatar (13%).

Interested?

Explore in-depth results from the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, including survey highlights and a white paper in Arabic and English

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about entrepreneurship aspirations among Arab youth

*For this year’s survey, international polling firm Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with exclusively Arab national men and women aged 18 to 24 in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain; Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen. The interviews were conducted from January 11 to February 22, 2016.

Arab youth more likely to start a business compared to older cohorts

• The 2016 ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey* finds more than a third of young Arabs intend to start own business in next five years
• Young Arabs say governments can do more to encourage lending, provide training and cut red tape
• Young Arabs are increasingly positive about entrepreneurship with more than half believing members of this generation are more likely to start a business than the previous one

Asked “do you feel people in this generation are more likely to start a business than in previous generations,” 54% agreed, with youth in the GCC most enthusiastic at 62%, compared to 54% of North African youth and 44% of youth in the Levant.

The key finding from the Eighth Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey was unveiled by Sunil John, the founder and CEO of ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller. Now in its eighth year, the ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey has established itself as a key referral source for businesses and policymakers across the world.

In a separate response, the survey found that 36% of young Arabs said they themselves intend to start their own business in the next five years – specifically 37% of youth in the GCC, 39% in North Africa and 31% in the Levant.

Real estate, technology and retail were the top three sectors in which Arab youth would like to start a new business venture. Real estate is the preferred choice for a startup in the Gulf states, where 24% of youth said they would opt to launch a property-related company, whereas technology was the top choice for would-be entrepreneurs in the Levant (15%) and North Africa (18%). Retail is the second most popular choice in Levant and North Africa for 15% and 16 of respondents respectively; however in the Gulf only 9% would opt to start a retail operation.

Across the whole Middle East 34% said they did not intend to launch their own business, while 30% didn’t know. Lack of financial resources to start a business was cited as the main reason overall, by 20% of young people, however in the GCC only 8% believed they lacked the means to go it alone, while in North Africa, 37% saw this as the biggest hurdle.

Young Arabs believe governments can do more to support young entrepreneurs, with 39% saying that encouraging affordable lending should be made a priority; 25% calling for education and training to be improved and made more available; and 19% asking for government regulations and red tape to be cut.

“These findings suggest governments in the Middle East have an excellent opportunity to really help kickstart an entrepreneurial culture in the region,” said Sunil John. “With the Arab world needing to provide 80 to 100 million jobs by 2020, according to the World Bank, this represents a rich resource of largely untapped talent who can help drive the Arab world’s transformation to knowledge-based economies, and provide the opportunities of the future.”

Interested?

Explore in-depth results from the 8th Annual ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey, including survey highlights and a white paper in Arabic and English

Read the Suroor Asia blog post about where Arab youth would most like to live

*For the 2016 survey, international polling firm Penn Schoen Berland (PSB) conducted 3,500 face-to-face interviews with exclusively Arab national men and women aged 18 to 24 in the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain; Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Palestine, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Yemen. The interviews were conducted in the period January 11 to February 22, 2016.

posted from Bloggeroid

Reviewing Islam and democracy post-Arab Spring

Source: OUP.

In late 2010, the wave of civil resistance known as the Arab Spring stunned the world as dictatorships in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya were overthrown, while the regimes of Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen suppressed their own revolutions. The Islamic political parties of Tunisia and Egypt have gained particular attention for their success in the national elections following the overthrow of their regimes, and similar electoral success has been seen in Morocco and is predicted throughout the Arab world and beyond in the broader Middle East and in Southeast Asia.

Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring by John Esposito, Tamara Sonn, and John Voll (ISBN: 9780195147988) expands upon ideas raised in by Esposito and Voll in their earlier book Islam and Democracy, as well as data from the Gallup World poll and Gallup polling throughout Egypt, Tunisia, and other loci of the Arab Spring. Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring applies a twenty-first century perspective to the question of whether or not Islam is "compatible" with democracy by redirecting the conversation towards a new politic of democracy that transcends both secular authoritarianism and 'Political Islam'.

The book provides historical context and insights into the broader political developments of the Muslim world. While the opposition movements of the Arab Spring are distinctive, each has raised questions regarding equality, economic justice, democratic participation, and the relationship between Islam and democracy in their respective countries.

The authors are established experts on Islam and democracy and have served as consultants to governments, the military, and think tanks in the US, Europe, and Asia. Esposito is University Professor and Professor of Religion & International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, while Sonn is the Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in the History of Islam in the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Voll is Professor Emeritus of Islamic History at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University.

Interested?

The hardback costs £20. An ebook version is also available

HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Arab Thought Foundation

The Arab Thought Foundation has awarded Lieutenant General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of the UAE, the Lifetime Achievement Award 2015 in recognition of his exceptional leadership and creative ideas to promote security and achieve cultural and social development in the UAE, and in recognition of his humanitarian efforts.

The Foundation also honoured prominent Arab figures who have left their creative footprints in thought, literature and social development, including Chancellor Adly Mansour; Chedli Klibi, Amr Moussa, Dr Nabil Elaraby and Dr. Mohammad Noureddine Afaya.

HH Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior received the award from Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Adviser to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Province and Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation don the sidelines of the 14th annual conference of the Arab Thought Foundation (ATF) in Cairo, FIKR 14 Cairo 2015.

In his address at the ceremony, His Royal Highness Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation said that the Lifetime Achievement Award is given to distinguished Arab leading dignitaries whose life is productive and full of achievements in their respective countries.

In his acceptance speech, HH Sheikh Saif dedicated the award and thanked HH the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He said: “I am very pleased and honored to join this esteemed group of Arab intellectuals, who are being honoured, not only for being intellectuals, but because they are positive intellectuals who have left their marks on their communities. Both ancient and modern experiences have proven developed communities and governments rely on the efforts of their sons and daughters, who embrace positive thinking.”

HH Sheikh Saif added: “His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has recently declared 2016 as the Year of Reading in the UAE. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai is also supporting this initiative to promote reading among Emirati youth; while General HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces is dedicated to maintain the safety, security and happiness of our young generations.”

Dr Henri Awit, Director General of Arab Thought Foundation in Cairo, said HH Sheikh Saif is known for his creative ideas in relation to social development, and his wise vision about reinforcing security in his capacity as Minister of Interior. “Choosing Lieutenant General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award is testament to this distinguished leading Arab dignitary’s tireless efforts, and in appreciation of his creativity, accomplishments and humanitarian work in several fields. It is a well done, well deserved tribute,” he said.

He continued: “Sheikh Saif enjoys a comprehensive development vision in support of the fight against terrorism and chaos. He asserted on numerous occasions that terrorism can’t be fought with security measures only, and stressed the need for societal and developmental dimensions to overcome it.”

“This accolade comes at a time when we strive to maintain the Arab solidarity; and we congratulate the Arab Thought Foundation for making this choice,” added Dr Husam Abdulwahab Zaman, Director General of the UNESCO Regional Center.

His Excellency Mohammed Omran Al Shamsi, Chancellor of the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) in the UAE, lauded the humanitarian achievements made by HH Sheikh Saif, notably HH’s support to the programme implemented by the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters in coordination with the Higher Colleges of Technology to prepare and rehabilitate the punitive and correctional establishments’ inmates to join the workforce. He hailed the project as one of the leading humanitarian projects to rehabilitate former inmates, qualify them to join the workforce and obtain job opportunities and integrate them into society.

“This allows inmates to pursue their studies at the Higher Colleges of Technology once released. Inmates can seek to obtain a certificate of completion, a diploma, or a higher diploma. They will also be granted a certificate of good conduct, which enables them to obtain a job in the public sector.

HE Mohammed Fadhil Al Hamili, Secretary General of the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs (ZHO), shared that HH Sheikh Saif has played an active and key role in supporting the Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care and Special Needs, as well as supporting people with special needs. "HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has launched multiple humanitarian initiatives that aim to serve people with special needs, including the ‘Plants of Hope’ that aims to integrate children with special needs with their healthy peers, and inculcate the values of loyalty and belonging to the country. It also aims to build the spirit of collective teamwork amongst all segments of society. In addition to that, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed launched the ‘Will’ programme, which is consistent with ZHO’s mission and strategy, to facilitate the employment and integration of people with special needs into the mainstream society.”

HE Al Hamili also noted that the support and care of HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed are a leading model of patriotism, which reflect the strategy of ZHO, inspired by the Abu Dhabi Government’s strategy. He also praised the directives of HH the Minister of Interior to integrate people with special needs into society, through the Abu Dhabi Police General Headquarters, which strives to provide them with job opportunities; another approach that falls in line with the Zayed Higher Organization's vision and mission, and its sublime humanitarian goals. "These measures highly serve our efforts to sponsor and rehabilitate people with special needs, to provide them with humanitarian care, and integrate them into the UAE society as efficient citizens that contribute to building and promoting national development,” he concluded.

Dr. Khaled Khalfan Al Ameri, Director of the Ministry of Interior’s Centers for Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Special Needs, said: “HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has always dedicated special attention to people with special needs, based on his firm belief in the inherent capabilities of this category. This was also based on HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed’s commitment to instill the values of social responsibility and solidarity.

“Such attention is reflected in the unrelenting efforts of the Ministry of Interior’s Centers for Rehabilitation and Employment of People with Special Needs, which enjoys full support and followup from HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed since its establishment in 2002. The Centers have made significant achievements in terms of training, rehabilitating, and employing people with special needs, as well as integrating them in society; an approach that has earned the cCentres international praise from specialised organisations around the world, as a unique model regionally and globally. The graduates of the Centers have been highly competitive in the labor market and proven their efficiency and capability in work, based on the skills they acquired during the courses and training programmes they attended.”

As a part of HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed’s commitment to raise awareness about people with special needs, and the need to support them and integrate them in society, HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed has called upon all society institutions to provide job opportunities for people with special needs and to assume their social responsibility towards people with special needs by providing opportunities that match their capabilities and qualifications.

Amina Al Baloushi, Chairperson of the Emirates Women Police Association (EWPA), said: “The women police sector has always received unyielding support from HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed. The female staff members at the Ministry of Interior are encouraged to show their innovation and capabilities, as well as their competence in discharging their work duties according to the applicable standards. This support has empowered female staff members to excel in police work with high efficiency and professionalism, ultimately contributing to developing the services of the Ministry of Interior.”

She also noted that the EWPA is the result of the vision of HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed that aims to enhance the role of women in various policing fields. It also aims to enhance social awareness regarding the role of Emirati women in this vital sector, which is tasked with maintaining security and stability gains. She also asserted that this support has enabled the UAE to gain the membership of the International Association of Women Police (IAWP) that has its regional office in Abu Dhabi. This is the result of the good reputation and international awards earned by the EWPA.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is an annual award given by the Arab Thought Foundation to an Arab leading personality whose life is productive and full of achievements and who had a positive and distinguished impact in development and leadership. In 2011, the Foundation presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in appreciation of his creativity and accomplishments.

Arab Monetary Fund and International Islamic Liquidit Management Corp to promote financial inclusion in the Arab world

The Arab Monetary Fund and International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation (IILM) have agreed to cooperate with an MoU that will allow the two parties to launch joint activities and programmes that help support economic development, opportunities, as well as to promote financial inclusion in the Arab region.

The two institutions will work together to provide technical support services and to build capabilities to develop the Islamic finance industry. The Arab Monetary Fund will contribute its expertise on the region, while the IILM will facilitate liquidity management for institutions that offer Islamic financial services.

Professor Datuk Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim, Chief Executive Officer of the IILM said, “This collaboration is in line with the objectives of the IILM to facilitate liquidity management for Islamic financial services in the Arab region thereby enhancing their resilience and ability to meet future economic challenges. The development of a systemic shari’ah-compliant liquidity management infrastructure, accepted across multi - jurisdictions in which Islamic financial services operate, is instrumental towards ensuring sustainable financial stability.”

HE Dr Abdulrahman Al Hamidy, Director General Chairman of the Board, Arab Monetary Fund, said that that the signing of this memorandum is within the framework of the Fund's interest to develop its activities and programmes in the field of Islamic finance and financial inclusion. Furthermore the MoU attempts to consolidate relations with institutions and related bodies especially with the IILM and its role in supporting the opportunities of the development of Islamic industry.

The Arab Monetary Fund works to strengthen the foundations of monetary integration of the Arab economies, and provides financial and technical support for economic and financial reforms undertaken by the Arab countries to support the development and improvement of growth opportunities. On the other hand, the IILM aims to assist in the development of the Islamic finance industry by facilitating liquidity management for institutions that offer Islamic financial services.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) foundation to focus on Arab region

Source: MBRGI website.

HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the Mohammed Bin Rashid Global Initiatives (MBRGI) foundation, consolidating the work of 28 organisations focusing on fighting poverty and illness, disseminating knowledge and culture, empowering communities and driving innovation. Combined, the foundation's initiatives will implement over 1,400 human development programmes in more than 116 countries around the world.

Sheikh Mohammed said, "The world today is facing great challenges on all levels; in terrorism, wars and mass immigration and the only solution lies in human development which can be achieved by educating people and helping them build their future."

Source: MBRGI. Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives - achievements.

MBRGI will target over 130 million people over the coming years, with a focus on the Arab region. It will also launch the largest comprehensive development programme in the Arab region focusing on human development in an integrated manner starting with providing the basic human needs from health, fighting illiteracy and poverty through to providing knowledge, the dissemination of culture and the development of education. It will work in parallel on developing a new generation of young Arab leaders, supporting real change in the area of good governance in the region and providing the largest incubator for Arab innovators, scientists and researchers.

The primary basic goals of the new foundation are: fighting poverty; dissemination of knowledge; community empowerment and innovation for the future.

Team from Australian National University wins against native Arabic speakers in Qatar

Source: ANU, CAIS. The debating team.

A team of four students from the Centre for Arab & Islamic Studies (CAIS) represented Australia and the Australian National University (ANU) at the Third International Universities Arabic Debating Championship held in Doha, Qatar from 26 to 29 April 2015. 

Despite the challenges of debating with native speakers of Arabic, the ANU team - Yara Hussien, Thomas Randall, Derek Bayley and Andrew Findell-Aghnatios, led by CAIS PhD scholar Adel Abdel Ghafar - was commended for its performance both by other teams and the event organisers. The ANU team also won against a team of native Arabic speakers from the American University of the Emirates, which involved debating Internet censorship and democratisation. 

“I am very proud of the team’s performance,” Abdel Ghafar said. “Their performance is a reflection on both the student’s debating skills and the world-class quality of the Arabic programme at CAIS.”

This was the second time ANU students had participated, last competing in the event in 2013. Supported by the Qatar Foundation, the four-day biannual event seeks to unlock human potential by fostering a culture of discussion and debate, helping shape the global citizens of the future and creating the intellectual leaders of tomorrow. 

The championship saw a huge increase in the number of participants this year, with 67 teams representing 33 countries competing. Teams from non-Arab speaking universities came from Australia, India, Pakistan, Brunei, Malaysia, France, Poland, China, Korea, Kazakhstan, the US and Germany.