2009 EDUCATION STIMULUS MONEY
The proposed foundation is expected to develop not only education, but also create more jobs. Most of the Arab world is experiencing a rapid population growth and requires generating 15 million jobs immediately. This deficit of jobs might rise up to 80 million by the year 2035. There was an urgent need for creating more awareness among the entrepreneurs therefore, and allow them to have better training. Growing infrastructure was already made the top priority by most Arab nations; however it might not help in the longer run, unless they had a strong workforce of ethnic Arabs ready to assume charge.
Sheikh Mohammed, who is also known for his keen interest of racehorses, announced his latest charity plan at the World Economic Forum, organized recently in Jordan. It is being touted as one of the largest donations of its kind in the man’s history. One will have to wait to know now, how much this might help in developing the knowledge-base of the Middle East. Dubai's ruler has recently made an announcement of donating $10bn for a newly formed education body. The idea behind this charity is to raise the standards of education and create more jobs for the Arab people. The foundation, called after the ruler's name, the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum Foundation, is expected to work on human development in the Middle East. As per Sheikh's own words, Arabs needed to develop a "knowledge-based society" to meet with the challenges of a new millennium. There is a growing fear across the Arab world that a lacking education and scientific research might adversely affect their economic growth.