Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center promotes cultural dialogue at the Kazan Forum
Kazan, 22nd May / WAM / The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, during the 17th International Economic Forum “Russia – the Islamic World: Kazan Forum 2026”, which was held in the city of Kazan, in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan, with the participation of officials, decision-makers and representatives of cultural, religious and academic institutions from more than 100 countries, highlighted its efforts in promoting cultural and humanitarian rapprochement, through its rich participation in the forum’s sessions and discussions.
The Center participated in a dialogue session entitled “Emirati-Russian Dialogue: Culture, Tolerance, Coexistence and Peace,” organized by the UAE Embassy in Moscow, and its pavilion enjoyed a remarkable attendance, as it displayed a model of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, along with a group of its cultural and educational publications, and the interactive “Guide” device available in 14 languages, and supported by virtual and augmented reality technologies, which allowed access to the mosque and learning about its message and unique architectural details.
The Center donated a selection of its quality publications to both the National Library in Tatarstan and the library of the Islamic University in Russia, in an initiative that reflects its pioneering role in documenting and disseminating the cultural heritage of the mosque, and highlighting the aesthetics of Islamic architecture and its established values of tolerance and cultural convergence.
In the session “Emirati-Russian Dialogue: Culture, Tolerance, Coexistence and Peace,” His Excellency Dr. Yousef Al-Obaidli, Director General of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center, presented a paper on Islam, tolerance and coexistence in the UAE, in the presence of Rustam Minnikhanov, Ruler of the Republic of Tatarstan, and His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, with the participation of Kamil Samigolin, Mufti of the Republic of Tatarstan, and a number of officials and experts. The paper touched on the role of the UAE and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Consolidating the values of tolerance and openness, and highlighted the importance of soft powers, including arts, programs and initiatives launched by the Center with the aim of spreading moderation and correcting concepts, and confirmed the success of the UAE in building a diverse and cohesive society, embodied in the scenes of human participation embraced by the mosque, where differences fade and points of convergence between different religions and cultures emerge.
As part of the forum’s programme, the Centre’s delegation visited a number of prominent cultural and religious landmarks in the Republic of Tatarstan, including a visit to the Kazan Kremlin, which includes the Qul Sharif Mosque, the Cathedral of the Annunciation, and a number of museums and exhibitions. It also visited the National Library in Tatarstan, where the delegation was briefed on the efforts made to preserve the Islamic and cultural heritage and enhance the cognitive and cultural movement in the region.
He held a series of meetings with officials at Kazan Federal University, the Center of Civilization, and the Russian Islamic University, during which ways of cooperation were discussed in the cultural and cognitive fields, and the exchange of experiences in the fields of scientific research and civilizational dialogue, in a way that strengthens cultural and academic relations between the UAE and the Republic of Tatarstan.
In the context of its international presence and enhancing its cultural role, the Center participated as a guest of honor in the ceremony selecting the city of Kazan as the Capital of Culture in the Islamic World for the year 2026, in a step that reflects the cultural and civilizational status of the city, and its role in promoting cultural dialogue among the peoples of the Islamic world. It also attended the meeting of the Strategic Vision Group “Russia – the Islamic World”, within the framework of strengthening the Center’s presence in relevant international forums, and supporting paths of comprehensive dialogue and cooperation between Russia and Islamic countries, especially in the cultural and civilizational aspects.
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