H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, today inaugurated the newly renovated conference hall of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, at its headquarters in Paris.

Sheikh Hamdan gave a speech during the launch of the 39th session of the General Conference of UNESCO, with the attendance of Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO, and representatives of its member countries.

"We, in the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, encourage and support UNESCO’s initiatives in education and culture and the preservation of the world’s heritage. We call on all countries to support this organisation, so it can effectively perform its role and spread its message, and we renew our commitment, in the UAE, to offer our support to consolidate the efforts of the organisation and achieve its main goals," Sheikh Hamdan said.

Sheikh Hamdan expressed his happiness at the restoration and renovation of the conference hall, which cost around US$6 million and was funded by his donation.

He again renewed the UAE’s commitment to humanitarian and charity organisations and to provide all forms of financial and moral support to UNESCO, to help it spread the culture of education, tolerance and peace among nations through its projects and initiatives around the world, especially in developing countries.

Bokova launched the 39th session of UNESCO’s General Conference with a speech, where she praised the UAE’s support for the organisation’s programmes and initiatives in the areas of education, culture, research and the protection of heritage in many regions. She also praised the efforts of Sheikh Hamdan and his initiatives to assist the organisation, which has helped it spread its message on education and heritage affairs.

Sheikh Hamdan and Bokova lifted the curtain off the commemorative painting in the conference hall after its renovation.

Sheikh Hamdan also witnessed the signing of an agreement of co-operation and partnership between the "Hamdan Fund to Support the UNESCO" and UNESCO, which was signed by Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, and Irina Bokova.

Sheikh Hamdan was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Al Maktoum Foundation; Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention and Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs; Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi; Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Department of Education and Knowledge and Chancellor of UAE University; Dr. Rashid Ahmed bin Fahad; Humaid bin Obaid Al Qatami; Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority; Ahmed Humaid Al Tayer; Saeed Mohammed Al Kendi; Maadhad Hareb Mughair Al Khaili, UAE Ambassador to France, along with several chairmen and directors of related government institutions and educational leaders from the UAE.

Sheikh Hamdan also launched the exhibition of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance on the sidelines of UNESCO’s General Conference, where he inspected the materials, pictures, research and initiatives submitted for the award from the UAE and other countries.