WAM ABU DHABI: The Ministry of Presidential Affairs on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Egypt's Al-Azhar to provide AED 155 million in funds to support the University's educational and cultural projects.

The MoU which is part of the cultural and scientific was signed at Al-Azhar's headquarters in Cairo by Saeed Al-Meqbali, the Undersecretary of Local Sectors at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Chairman of the Committee on Aid to Egypt and Sheikh Abdul Tawwab Abdul Hakim Qutob, the Undersecretary of Al-Azhar in presence of senior Egyptian and emirati officials.

According to the MoU, the funds will be used to construct a new building for the Al-Azhar's library to house some 50000 precious manuscripts as well as publications, to secure the current assets by state-of-the-art electronic control and security systems and to construct accommodation units for the university's students.

The MoU expresses the appreciation of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for the role Al-Azhar plays in service of the Islamic nation and is in continuation of the ongoing support by the UAE sisterly people of Egypt within the framework of historic and fraternal relations between the two countries.

The initiative is being followed up by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, according to Al-Meqbali.

"The UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan takes pride in this great seat of Islamic learning which has become a prominent center for enlightenment and an authority for the promotion of Islam's tolerance and moderation," the UAE official said.

For his part, Al-Azhar Grand Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayeb expressed appreciation of the initiative by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and valued the role taken up by the UAE in service of the causes of the Islamic nation and the Arab nation.

Sheikh Abdul Tawwab Abdul Hakim Qutob, the Undersecretary of Al-Azhar said the UAE never spares any effort to help Egypt. The emirati brother's support to cooperation between the two countries is evident and our fraternal ties with them are very ancient. We pray to Allah to keep these ties and relations for the good of the two sisterly peoples," he added.

WAM/MMYS