His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), and the accompanying delegation visited the headquarters of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Thursday, 22 Rabi’ al-Awwal 1443H corresponding to 28 October 2021G.

His Excellency and the accompanying delegation were received by H.E. Mohammed Saeed Al Neyadi, Director General of the Authority, and his Executive Directors. His Excellency welcomed his honorable guest and thanked him for the visit, which confirms the Academy’s keenness to build bridges of communication and cooperation with the Authority and other official religious institutions in the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). His Excellency also praised the great support the authority receives from the Emirati leadership and its eagerness to spread the bright and civilized image of Islam and to consolidate the values ​​of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and respect for cultural, ethnic, and religious diversity. On the other hand, His Excellency noted that there is a great intersection between the goals of the Authority and those of the Academy, which makes it easier for the two parties to strengthen relations of cooperation, coordination, and communication in order to serve Islam and Muslims all over the world.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General expressed his great thanks and sincere appreciation to the leadership and people of the United Arab Emirates for the warm welcome and hospitality, praising the material and moral support to the Academy since its establishment to this day. His Excellency also expressed his happiness with this visit, which aims to discuss with those responsible for managing religious affairs in the country, and all intellectual and scientific institutions that work to spread the values ​​of tolerance and peaceful coexistence among societies. His Excellency then added, “It is a matter of joy and pleasure that the Academy’s strategic plan includes intellectual and scientific programs and activities that are compatible with the aspirations and programs of the Authority, in addition to the fact that the Authority is working to keep pace with the changes, and to achieve the hopes and aspirations of the Emirati society in strengthening the bonds of continuous communication and cooperation with the Academy, and its willingness to host the next Annual Session of the Academy.”

The meeting was attended from the Emirati side by the Executive Directors of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Ifta’ and mosques. Ms. Sarah Amjad, Director of Family and Women’s Affairs, and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim, Head of the Protocol Division, were also present from the Academy’s side.