The UAE’s vision for world peace at the Davos Forum

Davos – The Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum, Sheikh Mahfouz Bey, reviewed the vision of the United Arab Emirates to spread a culture of peace and tolerance in the world, highlighting its pioneering role in sustainable development and calling on the world for a civilizational embrace that guarantees security, stability, and developmental and economic prosperity for all, recalling in this context the resounding success of the UAE’s hosting of the summit. Global Climate Change COP28.

These statements come as part of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum’s participation in the activities of the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, embodying its involvement in the Executive Council of the Council of 100 initiative, an initiative launched by the World Economic Forum that aims to enhance dialogue and understanding between the Islamic world and the West.

Secretary-General Mahfouz Bin Bayyah participated in a closed roundtable chaired by the President and Founder of the Davos Forum, Klaus Schwab, which included a limited number of participants to examine the challenges of the modern world and explore the role of civil society in enhancing multilateral cooperation.

The second day also witnessed the launch of the Davos Forum report on “Faith in Action”, in a strategic discussion session that focused on the role of education and artificial intelligence in achieving sustainable peace.

In his speech on the occasion, Al Mahfouz Bey highlighted the role of religions in confronting global challenges, reviewing the role of the Abu Dhabi Peace Forum in developing concepts of AI ethics, through its participation in the Rome Call for AI Ethics in cooperation with international bodies such as the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Life. He also highlighted the Forum’s role in establishing the first Commission on Artificial Intelligence and Civil Society, which was launched in London in December 2023, to examine the role of ethics and governance in AI.

The third day witnessed the activities of “Dinner Dialogue: Faith in Action”, with the participation of a number of prominent figures from different religious backgrounds and major actors in civil society. In his speech, Mahfoudh bin Bayyah addressed the intrinsic value of human dignity, which is deeply rooted in the teachings of all religions and in particular in the values ​​and sacred texts of Islam.

He also called, based on the historic Abu Dhabi Declarations of Peace, such as the Marrakesh Declaration, the Declaration of the New Hilf al-Fudul, the Declaration of Comprehensive Citizenship, and the Declaration of Human Fraternity, to build an international system that effectively preserves and protects human dignity, transcending religious, cultural, and ethnic differences, based on what religious and human values ​​include in terms of equality, fairness, and embracing diversity.

It is worth noting that the Davos Forum is one of the most important international gatherings for world leaders, decision-makers, prominent businessmen, intellectuals and cultural figures. This edition witnessed the participation of a large number of political leaders, thinkers and businessmen.