Your Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum..
Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai..
Your Highnesses, Excellencies and Eminences..
Ladies and Gentlemen..

Greetings,

I would like to begin my speech and on behalf of the Arab Thought Foundation (ATF), by extending our sincere thanks and appreciation to the United Arab Emirates, led by his Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I congratulate the Emirati people, leadership and Government on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the United Arab Emirates’ National Day. I extend my special thanks to Dubai and its Ruler, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum who led this ambitious dream and broke records with his amazing accomplishments, making Dubai an international modern city due to his developmental visions and insights, hard work and personal follow-up for all his activities.

I would also like to thank his Highness for hosting the ATF tenth annual conference “FIKR 10” in Dubai under his auspices who is known for his deep-rooted Arabism, strong development belief, fulfillment of the social responsibilities and appreciation of the thought’s role in Arab Rebirth.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Ever since its inception, ATF has adopted a fixed policy in its annual conference. It is bound to raise current affairs in our Arab World, treat them impartially and gather for this purpose and under a free intellectual umbrella, an elite of Arab and non-Arab intellectuals who study these said affairs, analyzing the reasons and motives, assessing the current situation, anticipating the future repercussions on the Nation and then providing insights that would help achieve the Nation’s best interest.

In accordance with this policy, “Arab Spring” imposed itself as the conference’s primary topic in view of the unprecedented and dangerous events that are currently distracting the Arab world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If Change was the main and common request on the Arab scene, ATF was the first to realize that the inevitable and positive change should come from within the Arab nation, and not from anywhere else. Thus, it held its third annual conference “FIKR 3” in Marrakesh at the end of 2004 for this purpose. It was entitled “Arab between Culture of Change and Change of Culture”.

I had the honor of delivering the opening speech, which stated:
“No one denies that change is an imperative and necessary universal rule. However, to change the present just for the sake of changing is a fruitless project. The real change aims at developing the reality, promoting human beings and facilitating their life. The real change considers culture as a basic tool for its scientific and practical activities. It believes that culture blends represent the incentive for the development of the human civilization”.

Perhaps the most pressing question in the current Arab crisis is the following: Are we willing to accept that this culture of change is in fact a form of development and reform? Which means we need to reevaluate our current situation and adjust it, keeping in mind it will require a lot of effort and courageous decisions in order to proceed with the implementation of an active Arab reform project.

Your Highness..
Ladies and Gentlemen..
You may agree with me on this question raised seven years ago and still pending, waiting for an answer. And who is more suitable than you to help us answer it?
Allow me again to extend my thanks and appreciation to the audience, participants, sponsors and hospitable Emirati people.

Peace be Upon you..

Thank you.
Khalid AlFaisal
Chairman of ATF

Dubai, Monday 10th of Muharram 1433 H corresponding to the 5th of December 2011 AD