Latifa bint Mohammed is 'the face of Dubai and Dubai's voice to the world', says Mohammed bin Rashid

H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has expressed his pride in H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, describing her as 'the face of Dubai and Dubai's voice to the world' as she leads a high-level delegation to South Korea.

In a post published today, His Highness said he was 'proud of my daughter and the daughter of the UAE, Latifa', praising her work, her dedication, her representation of her country and her role in carrying the UAE's message to the world, and closing with a prayer: 'May God protect you wherever you are.'

During the visit to Seoul, Sheikha Latifa met Dr Jeong Eun-kyeong, South Korea's Minister of Health and Welfare, to discuss the Korean experience in developing healthcare and social welfare services and the role of innovation and advanced technologies in improving their quality and efficiency. She also visited Asan Medical Centre, where she met its President, Park Seung-il, and was briefed on its advances in healthcare, medical innovation and scientific research.

Sheikha Latifa held meetings with senior representatives of leading Korean companies and institutions to explore wider partnerships in healthcare, investment, urban planning and cultural heritage preservation. They included a meeting with Shin Yoo-yeol, Executive Vice President and Head of the Future Strategy Office at LOTTE Group, on opportunities for global companies to expand through Dubai and the UAE, and a visit to HEERIM Architects and Planners. She was accompanied by H.E. Maryam Al Hammadi, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the UAE Cabinet, and Aisha Miran, Director General of Dubai's Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

Al Majlis Analysis: Mohammed bin Rashid's words go beyond a father's pride in his daughter; they present a model of the role young leaders can play in economic and cultural diplomacy. The visit brought together files that look far apart, from healthcare to urban planning and heritage preservation, but the common thread is the transfer of expertise and attracting global companies to Dubai as a platform for regional markets. South Korea is an important technology and industrial partner for the UAE, and the presence of a Minister of State and the head of Dubai's knowledge authority in the delegation shows that education and government work are part of the agenda. The message of 'the face and voice of Dubai' underlines that a city's image abroad is built through work on the ground, not campaigns alone.