On the sidelines of the 21st Moscow International Qur'an Reciting Competition, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin met with a UAE delegation represented by Muhammad bin Zayed Khalifa Mubarak al-Zahiri, Principal of the Muhammad Bin Zayed University of Humanities, Muhammad Saeed Bakhit al-Niyadi, Director General of the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments of the UAE, Rashid al-Khatiri, representative of the UAE Fatwa Council, and others.

The meeting was attended by First Deputy Chairman of the Russia Muftis Council, Deputy Chairman of the Religious Board of Muslims of Russia Rushan Abbyasov, Deputy Chairman of the RMC Ildar Galeyev and Deputy Chairman of the RBMRF for Science and Education Renat Islamov.
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The leader of Russian Muslims conveyed sincere greetings to President of the United Arab Emirates Muhammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan and noted that Russian Muslims appreciated his activities related to supporting Islamic initiatives in the world.

The main subject of the meeting was the development of cooperation between the Muslim population of both countries. In this context, Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin stressed that the RMC and the RBMRF have been establishing close ties with government agencies, religious, public, scientific and charitable organisations of the UAE. The Mufti said that this coopeeation resulted in a number of implemented projects, as well as the signed Memorandum of Understanding between the RBMRF and the General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments of the UAE, and the Memorandum of Understanding between the Moscow Islamic Institute and the Muhammad bin Zayd University of Humanities.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the rapidly developing field of Islamic banking. Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin informed the delegates that the State Duma had adopted relevant laws, and a pilot project had been launched in four regions of our country.

Dr Khalifa Mubarak al-Zahiri expressed his intention to develop cooperation within the framework of the signed memorandum and noted that the UAE President Muhammad bin Zayed al-Nahyan attached great importance to strengthening relations with the Russian Federation, including through interaction with the Religious Board of Muslims of Russia and the Russia Muftis Council.

The UAE delegated expressed their admiration with the beauty of the Moscow Cathedral Mosque and praised the active stance of Russian Muslims. They thanked the head of Russian Muslims for hospitality and noted the excellent organisation of the Qur'an festival.