HH Shaykh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum Press Conference

WAM has just published a press release  relaying details of a press conference held by HH Shaykh Mohammed Bin Rashid AlMaktoum, Ruler of Dubai and Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates.

Here are some salient points from the release - though I encourage you to read it in its entirety.

1. Sheikh Mohammed sat in a chat session with the journalists to talk about so-called crisis of Dubai World and the media buzz around this problem, as well as the confusion and exaggeration in conveying the right image of this topic across a section of the media.
2. He asserted that he is not worried about the hype the media had created.
3. "(In fact) we wanted this reaction, which has proven that we are the difficult figure in the equation of the global and regional economies as I had said earlier. This is what makes us feel satisfied and proud that we work, and play an important, vital and positive role in the international economy, which has suffered a strong jolt as the result of the announcement of the restructuring of a company".
4. "People try to pelt stones or anything else within their reach at a fruit bearing tree. Then how it will be when we have seven fruit-bearing trees or more? It is natural that we are exposed to all these exaggerations, which are far from reality".
5. He added: "The diligent waves have amazing patience.. amazing".
6. At the end of the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed expressed his hope that the media will convey the truth, saving the people from falling into quagmire, and reminded that transparency and credibility are the most important attributes of successful media.  He called on the journalists to search for the truth, to uphold credibility and judge by conscience above all, so as to earn public trust and respect.

As I go forward I intend to report on this so-called story without hype and with minimal buzz, paying particular close attention to Point #5 above. (Tafsir on the waves comment:  long term versus short term).