Sheikh Mohammed: 'Extremism is religiously and morally unacceptable'

Ruler of Dubai says UAE will be a key global partner in the fight against terrorism as the Cabinet adopts bill to create international anti-terror centre.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has vowed the UAE would confront extremism. Jeff Topping / The National

ABU DHABI // The Cabinet has adopted a bill setting up a new international centre to combat extremism and terrorism.

Called Hedayah (guidance), it was announced in December by the Foreign Minister, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, and has been in operation since.

The Cabinet said the centre would aim to establish "a global platform that catalyses discussion and co-operation among countries of the world to confront extremism".

When it was first announced, officials said it would investigate terrorism and its roots, and find ways to support victims of terrorism by working with academics and religious and community leaders.

"Extremism is religiously and morally unacceptable," tweeted Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, after yesterday's Cabinet meeting. "International cooperation is needed to confront it and the UAE will remain a key partner."

He said the country adopted an open, moderate and tolerant approach as a state and rejected extremism as religiously and morally unacceptable.

At the same meeting, the Cabinet adopted a new control system for drinking water.

It will improve water quality by unifying control mechanisms on drinking water, including production, processing, packaging and distribution.

"Water is life ... and the quality of water is the quality of life.. and its safety is the safety of all members of a society," Sheikh Mohammed tweeted.

He stressed the importance of federal and local government efforts in unifying standards in co-operation with the Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Health, Federal Customs Authority, local customs authorities, UAE University, the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, and municipalities in addition to main water suppliers.

The new control system will start six weeks after its publication in the official gazette.

The Cabinet also decided to set up a board of directors of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, to be chaired by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, who chairs the General Women's Union and the Family Development Foundation.

Sheikh Mohammed noted Sheikha Fatima's pioneering role in supporting issues concerning women, children and family.

The Cabinet also approved the setting up of an embassy in Ukraine, and the upgrading of its consulates in Brazil, Spain, the US, Italy and Iraq to become general consulates.