Abu Dhabi: H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chief of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Martyrs' Families, Chairman of the International Humanitarian Affairs Council, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Zayed Humanitarian Legacy Foundation, witnessed the signing of a joint agreement between the Emirates International Aid Agency (Emirates International Aid) and the Chadian Ministry of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation to build the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and Cultural Centre in N'Djamena, Chad. The agreement was attended by H.E. Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State.
The UAE-Chad agreement comes in implementation of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the follow-up of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The agreement was signed by His Excellency Dr. Tariq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the Emirates International Aid Agency (Emirates Aid), and His Excellency Taher Hamed Anguelin, Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation of Chad. Under the agreement, the Sheikh Zayed Mosque will be built on a 5,000-square-meter building area, accommodating 10,000 worshippers, 5,000 of whom will be inside the mosque and another 5,000 in its courtyard and surrounding area. The mosque will also include a public library and a religious school for teaching the Holy Quran and its sciences. A cultural center will also be built on a 2,000-square-meter designated plot of land, comprising 16 classrooms, administrative offices, multi-purpose halls for lectures, workshops and cultural activities, and a diverse library.

The center's main activities focus on Iftar programs, the distribution of sacrificial animals, and the implementation of training courses and joint Emirati-Chadian national events.
His Excellency Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State, said that the UAE is continuing its civilizational and humanitarian mission, the foundations of which were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and consolidated by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him. This mission emphasizes the importance of joint international action in development and construction, providing humanitarian assistance to communities most in need, and strengthening channels of cultural exchange between peoples and nations around the world by establishing places of worship and cultural centers regardless of origin, race, color, religion, creed, sect, or geographical location.

His Excellency added: "The UAE has always been a pioneer in humanitarian, developmental and charitable work, building bridges of culture, science and cultural communication, and moving forward in strengthening bilateral relations with various countries, in a way that achieves goodness and development for all of humanity, and supports global priorities in continuing progress, prosperity and the advancement of life."

For his part, His Excellency Dr. Tariq Ahmed Al Ameri, Chairman of the Emirates International Aid Agency, emphasized the national and global responsibility undertaken by the Agency in implementing development projects and initiatives, providing vital assistance, improving living conditions and creating a tangible and sustainable positive impact in various regions and continents of the world, and in various humanitarian fields with vital, faith and knowledge dimensions, such as building mosques and cultural centers. He also highlighted the Agency's pivotal role in developing early recovery and stabilization programs and urgent humanitarian and relief response plans.

In turn, His Excellency Taher Hamed Anguelin, Minister of Finance, Budget, Economy, Planning and International Cooperation of Chad, expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation from the government and people of the Republic of Chad to the UAE, its leadership, government and people, for its humanitarian, development and charitable work and projects in general, and for the construction of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and the Cultural Center in the Chadian capital, N'Djamena, in particular. He added that they represent prominent landmarks of worship and culture, and embody the strong human bond and rich cultural communication they embody, which will benefit societies and peoples with more joint work in various fields and sectors, especially those that touch on the spirituality of worship and enhance dialogue between cultures.