The Prime Minister of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Great Arab Minds initiative on 4th January, driven by and headquartered at the Museum of the Future, the Emirates’ new global scientific landmark.
Great Arab Minds is the Gulf’s largest movement to find exceptional talents among Arab scientists, thinkers, and innovators across key fields, aiming to highlight and celebrate leading thinkers in the region and inspire young people with their example.
The five-year initiative will oversee working with regional and global partners, and focus on fields including physics and mathematics, software and data science, economics and higher education and research, said local media reports.
A committee of four Emirati Ministers will develop a system to identify and highlight the extraordinary thinkers and talents that the initiative will support.
The initiative is backed by an AED100 million ($27.23 million) fund which will support local and global partnerships in fostering research, development and innovation.
In a series of tweets, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said, “Today we launch a new project to search for 1,000 Great Arab Minds in the fields of physics and mathematics, software and data science, economics and higher education and research.”
He remarked: “Great minds built Arab civilization – today I believe we have the talent to build a better world.”
He added, “We will accelerate the Emirates’ role as an incubator for fostering Arab and global talent. We built the Museum of the Future as a global hub for scientists, thinkers and innovators – it is the ideal headquarters for a fund to develop the potential of our region’s finest minds.”
Reportedly, the Committee leading Great Arab Minds is chaired by Mohammad Al Gergawi, President of the Museum of the Future.
More details about the Great Arab Minds project will be announced over coming weeks, including information about each of the paths as well as processes for nomination and registration.
