The United Arab Emirates, UAE, is participating in the first Science and Technology Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, OIC, at the level of head of state and government in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, from 10th to 11th September 2017.

Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, is leading the country's delegation to the two-day gathering.

Astana Summit will witness a historic milestone as it will evolve a unified collective position at the highest levels of decision-making in OIC Member States with a view to advancing the different fields of science, technology and innovation, while emphasising the Muslim world’s resolve to promote scientific and technical development.

The Summit is important as it underscores the Member States’ support for scientific fields.

The Summit is also of significance considering that Muslims constitute a quarter of the world population and their countries possess abundant natural resources, although many Islamic countries still suffer poverty and diseases. It is therefore imperative to address these challenges using available resources, especially as this Summit is only the starting point for finding solutions to the countless problems facing the Muslim world using science and technology.

The Summit will issue the ''Astana Declaration'' in support of science and technology in OIC Member States and approve the OIC Plan of Action for Science and Technology 2026.