Cairo: The UAE will have the first branch of Egypt’s Al Azhar University following an agreement signed by Al Azhar Al Sharif and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday by Grand Imam of Al Azhar Al Sharif, Dr Ahmad Al Tayyeb, and Dr Mohammad Mattar Al Kaabi, Chairman of the authority, in Cairo.
The signing of the agreement took place at the headquarters of Al Azhar Al Sharif in Cairo where Al Tayyeb received Al Kaabi.
Al Tayyeb praised the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his concern for Egypt and its people, following in the footsteps of Shaikh Zayed, the UAE’s founding father.
Al Tayyeb said: “Cooperation and coordination continue between Al Azhar Al Sharif and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments in many activities and initiatives.”
He said these efforts will culminate in the opening of the first branch of Al Azhar University beyond Egypt, and lauded the great role played by the UAE in serving Islam and Muslims across the world as well as its honourable standing by the Egyptian people.
Al Tayyeb expressed his deepest thanks and appreciation to the UAE and its wise leadership for offering all forms of support to Al Azhar so as to be able to continue to carrying out its duty of promoting the tolerance and moderation of Islam.
He also commended the role and efforts of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments in developing the religious discourse in the UAE.
Dr Al Kaabi underlined the approach of moderate ideology and tolerance adopted byAl Azhar Al Sharif.
