A delegation of the UAE National Media Council visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and was received by Ildar Galeyev, head of the international department.

The delegates were offered a tour of the mosque, which was followed by a presentation of international activities of the Russian Muftis Council and the Religious Board of Muslims of the Russian Federation.

Ildar Galeev noted that Russian Muslims highly valued the cooperation between Russia and the UAE, mentioning that the relationships between the countries had started about 50 years before.

He also emphasized the fact that Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin made a great contribution to strengthening Russian-UAE cooperation in cultural, religious and other fields. In particular, the Moscow International Quran Reciting Contest held last year was dedicated to the memory of Sheikh Zayed, the first president of the UAE. It became possible due to close cooperation between the organizers of the Moscow International Quran Reciting Contest and the Dubai Holy Quran Award. Today this cooperation has a legal foundation, since  Rushan Abbyasov, First Deputy Chairman of the RMC, signed the memorandum of cooperation and understanding in 2018.

Ildar Galeyev also spoke about the recent meeting of Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin with the chairman of the UAE’s General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Mohammed Matar bin Abid al-Qa'abi, which took place on the sidelines of the 6th International Research and Practical Conference “Fakhretdin Readings”.

Ms. Fatima Hamdan Al-Abdouli. Executive Secretary of the delegation of the UAE National Media Council, praised the international activities of the Russian religious authorities. She expressed hope for further cooperation between the National Council and the Russian Muftis Council, which includes joint cultural and educational projects, as well as cooperation with relevant government departments and organizations in the UAE.