The Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) announced the launch of its refreshed strategy for 2017-2021 under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council and General Supervisor of the Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy initiative.
Making the announcement, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said: “The new strategy uses a two-pronged approach. The first part concentrates on the development of the Islamic economy system and includes identifying new key performance indicators (KPIs) for monitoring the growth of important sectors and measuring their contribution to the national economy. The second component includes enhancing Dubai’s status as a global reference for Islamic finance, industry, trading standards and culture, and as a prime destination for Halal trade and family tourism.”
Addressing the relevance of Islamic economy in today’s world, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan said: “Contrary to what some may think, Islamic economy does not belong to the past – rather, it is firmly rooted in the present and the future. Achieving progress is meaningless without sustainability, financial security and economic stability. Most young people today, especially in the UAE, no longer revel in material excesses. Instead, they enjoy applying creativity and innovation in producing real tools for development.”
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan added: “For a strategy to truly succeed, it should first and foremost equip people with the skills needed for its implementation. It is crucial to empower young talent with the latest advancements in knowledge and technology as well as with the ethical foundations that Islamic economy incorporates. The success of our efforts will depend on our creativity in developing the ethical framework of the Islamic ecosystem.”
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan concluded: “When His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy initiative in 2013, he did not aim to make a quantitative addition to current global economies. His vision was to establish an ecosystem that can inspire next generations looking to build a more prosperous future. Today, our youth have the means to make this goal a reality.”
The updated strategy includes International Center of Islamic Economy (ICIE) four initiatives reinforcing and building on the momentum established by the Dubai: Capital of Islamic Economy initiative.