Under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU), the Innovation Arabia 9 Congress began today (Monday, March 7, 2016) under the theme 'Accelerating Innovation Towards Sustainable Economy.' Organized by HBMSU, the occasion was attended by high-profile government officials, decision and policy makers, intellectuals, academics, researchers, consultants, and entrepreneurs from all over the world, including H.E. Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security in Dubai and Chairman of the University's Board of Governors. The congress commenced with a series of comprehensive discussions on the latest international advancements and the very best practices to hone research capabilities in the Arab World and consolidate the culture of development and imagination as a key foundation for sustainable and extensive advancement.

Innovation Arabia 9 concentrates on the existing outputs and future potential customers connected to innovation in the fields of smart learning, health and environment. In addition, it highlights on spreading out the best quality practices which put down the foundations to attain the enthusiastic goals of building a robust, incorporated, knowledge-based, and excellence-driven economy in the Arab World. The conversations are dealt with at the 3 concurrent conferences, namely; Quality and Business Management, Health and Environment, and Smart Learning Excellence.

The opening day of Innovation Arabia 9 provided a perfect opportunity to develop robust collaborations and reinforce international collaboration in establishing the educational sector based on the current smart technologies and promoting scientific research study to re-shape the future of local, regional and global development. HBMSU has actually entered into a tactical partnership with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization - International Bureau of Education and the Secretariat of the International Task Force on Teachers UNESCO (IBE, ED/ESC/TED) to implement the 'Post-Graduate Diploma in Curriculum Design and Development (PGDCDD) in the Arab World.' The brand-new cooperation is of excellent value as it highly contributes to the Arab educational industry as it offers a solid ground to raise the bar on the capacity of industry-related decision and policy makers and faculty members in the Arab World to improve the quality of curriculums and consequently provide ingenious, top quality education that addresses the fast-emerging modifications of the 21st century.

Also, Dr. Al Awar signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Professor Maria Amata Jaretto, Rector of Telematica Internazionale (UNINETTUNO), an Italian university, and Consultant for the Minister of Higher Education for creativity and technology in Italy, in order to explore the potential customers of academic cooperation and clinical research study in the shared fields of interest, as well as putting a clearer direction in the establishment and management of joint training centers in between the two universities to deliver world-class scientific and training services that fall in line with the fast developments imposed by the digital era.

Dr. Mansoor Al Awar, Chancellor, HBMSU, provided the opening speech at the congress, revealing his pleasure at the high self-confidence and trust offered by local, regional and international specialists to the University. He commended the limitless assistance of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed to this occasion which has proved, in the last couple of years, to be an outstanding interactive platform to enhance public-private relations and build efficient collaborations to support the socio-economic development in the Arab World and address the requirements of the 21st century.

"This self-confidence urges us to continue with our efforts to favorably support Dubai's and the UAE's management in the spread, transfer, production and nationalization of understanding in the Arab region and beyond, along with facilitate optimal investment in development, creativity and scientific research. Through Innovation Arabia, we look forward to establish typical structures making the very best of the promising young abilities in order to construct a knowledge-based society in line with the vision and instructions of the UAE's wise leadership," Al Awar added.

"Innovation Arabia 9 matches our success over the past years in opening effective channels of communication and conversation among leading influencers from various markets connected to business management, quality, smart learning excellence, health, and environment to find reliable solutions to drive advancement in the Arab World. Motivated by Dubai's vision, the 9th edition of the event follows an enthusiastic approach targeted at discovering brand-new strategies to form a protected and sustainable future for the coming generations through development which is presently acquiring great significance as an urgent requirement to promote competitiveness in worldwide landscape. We really hope that these extensive discussions will yield positive results in terms of reinforcing intellectual, research and leadership quality in the Arab World by developing a roadmap to support creative ideas and recognize positive imprints of leaders in the fields of education, environment, health, quality and business," Al Awar concluded.

HBMSU continued the events of the first day by commemorating the graduation of the members of the expert diplomas programs, which has been specially created to offer students with a high level of proficiency in the fields of management, innovation, institutional development and change management among others-- leading the way for them making important contributions to support the advancement procedure in the Arab world and to equate the goals of 'UAE Vision 2021' in building a competitive knowledge-based economy. Certificates were submitted to a group of young Emiratis and national leaders, which were composed of 65 graduates from the 'Comprehensive smart program in leadership skills,' 51 graduates from the 'Comprehensive smart program in assessment of excellence programs, together with 29 graduates from the 'Professional Diploma for innovation leaders in Government sector.'.

H.E. Osman Sultan, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC (du), delivered a speech that applauded the efforts of HBMSU in releasing 'Innovation Arabia 9,' which has prospered in ending up being a global and leading platform for enriched thinking and understanding transfer among regional and global neighborhoods. Sultan stressed on the significance of focusing on development as a vital tool to improve education, health and quality and supporting the structure of an incorporated knowledge-based economy while likewise promoting environmental security to achieve a more safe and secure and sustainable future in the Arab world.

Sultan included, "We are honored to join a group of influential personalities to explore the very best means available in welcoming creativity and innovation, particularly in regards to smart knowing, which is a basic pillar to support transforming Dubai into the smartest city worldwide falling in line with the directives of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Innovation Arabia 9 offers a tactical platform to make it possible for scholars from different disciplines and locations around the globe to submit research study documents and extensive research studies based on optimal practices and options to bridge the growing gap in between theoretical and useful elements across key areas such as 'Quality and Business Management,' 'Health and Environment,' and 'Smart Learning Excellence.' The conference likewise exposed the latest emerging patterns in the shift process to knowledge-based economies in the Arab world during round-table meetings, workshops, lectures and official and non-official panel discussions held over the last 3 days.