Dubai: US President George W. Bush took a tour of Dubai's landmarks with His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday.
Starting at the home of the late Shaikh Saeed Al Maktoum in Shindagha, Bush and Shaikh Mohammad were warmly welcomed with folk music and dance shows, flowers and incense.
The US President even took part in the folk dancing before touring the house, which was built on the Creek in 1896.
Heritage
He was briefed on the history of the Al Maktoum family, the contents of the house, the development of Dubai and some archaeological sites in the Sa'ouq Al Hadid area, which reflects the history of Dubai and its ancient civilisation, spanning thousands of years.
The two leaders, in the presence of Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and other senior UAE and US officials, attended folk shows performed by Emirati girls.
The US President expressed his admiration for the UAE's rich heritage and folklore.
On the second leg of his tour, Bush visited the Shaikh Mohammad Centre for Cultural Understanding in Bastakiya, where he was briefed on the programmes and activities of the centre.
He interacted with a group of young Emiratis pursuing the Mohammad Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development at the Arab Council, and was briefed about their leadership role in both the private and public sectors.
Bush enquired about their programme's message, targets and results achieved in building young leaders on academic, administrative and intellectual bases that reflect Shaikh Mohammad's vision for the future of young leaders.
Understanding
Bush also visited the Burj Al Arab hotel, where he met a number of young Arab leaders who briefed him on their activities at regional and international levels, which have the aim of extending and strengthening bridges of cultural understanding between Arab youth and their counterparts worldwide.
President Bush expressed appreciation and praised Shaikh Mohammad for his vision of opening a channel between young Arabs and the world.
He expressed his strong support for the policy, adding that he and the American people have great respect for Arabs and Islam. He called for collaboration between the two sides to achieve justice and peace in the Middle East and the world.
The US President later left the country and was seen off by Shaikh Mohammad, General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and other Shaikhs and senior officials.
Earlier, Bush was received at Dubai Airport by Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, in addition to other Shaikhs and officials.
