Dubai and Dundee sign agreement on 'Sister City' relationship

An agreement to this effect was signed on Tuesday by Qassim Sultan, Director General of Dubai Municipality, and Lord Provost John R Letford, Mayor of the City of Dundee, Scotland.

The agreement calls on both the cities to develop programmes and activities in fields such as economics, trade, science and technology, as well as culture and arts. "These programmes and activities will serve as vehicles to promote, exchange and to strengthen the relationship between our two cities," said Mr. Sultan announcing details of the agreement in a press conference.

He added that Dubai has adopted a policy of developing and maintaining strong ties with prominent cities around the world in order to facilitate exchange of expertise and technology and boost economic, civic and cultural cooperation.

Sultan noted that the relationship between Dubai and Dundee has been enhanced greatly by the presence of the Al Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies in Dundee, which was officially opened by Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, during a historic visit to the city in May 2002.

Commenting on the agreement, Lord Provost John R. Letford said he is extremely happy at having achieved this feat.

"I am proud to be associated with this agreement that links the City of Dundee in special ties with the City of Dubai which has witnessed marvellous progress and development under the leadership of its wise rulers. In this context, I thank all those who worked behind setting up and running the Al Maktoum Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, particularly Mr. Mirza Al Sayegh, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the institute, and Professor Abdal Fattah El Awaisi, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the institute. The institute has contributed tremendously to bolster the Arab-British relationship," said Mr. Letford.

He noted that working with the ethos of promoting a greater understanding and building bridges through academic excellence and serving the communities, the institute has become an integral part of Dundee's city and society. In addition, this has promoted Dundee a home to a centre of excellence in Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Dundee is one of the four major cities of Scotland with a population of 144,000 and is located on the Tay Estuary on the north East coast of Scotland.