The morning was filled with enthralling performances and special previews of some of the exciting parts of the GE Festival, which has more than 700 volunteers working hard to ensure its success. Aziz Merchant, President of the Ismaili Community in the UAE, announced that the Festival will be held under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council.
“This Patronage further strengthens the fraternal relationship that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has had with His Highness the Aga Khan for many decades now,” said President Aziz. He went on to explain that this “will further enable the various ongoing alliances in existence between Institutions of the Ismaili Imamat and the Ministries, Authorities and Departments of the UAE Government, this is much beyond just a Patronage.”
In attendance at the event were members of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism: Mr Mohammed Shael Alsaadi, CEO of the Dubai Corporation for Consumer Protection and Fair Trade; and Ms Laila Suhail, CEO of Strategic Alliances & Partnerships.
Also present were Maher Julfar and Mohamed Al Hamadi, Senior Executives of the Dubai World Trade Centre; and Mr Amit Nayak, Vice President of the Hospitality Asset Managers Association of UAE and member of the Hospitality Advisory Committee, who has helped to secure discounted airfares and hotels for members of the Jamat attending the Festival.
“His Highness the Aga Khan established the Jubilee Games as part of his Golden Jubilee to celebrate sporting excellence and promote youth development,” said Rahim Firozali, Chairman of the GE International Advisory Committee. “Ten years later, during his Diamond Jubilee, His Highness established Jubilee Arts to celebrate and recognise the arts as a rich part of our tradition, our history and our ethics.”
Chairman Rahim went on to outline the three sustainability goals for the GE Festival: education and awareness, sustainable procurement, and measurement and reporting. Since a significant focus of the event will be on sustainability, the GE Festival has partnered with Ismaili CIVIC to launch the “Roots for Change” campaign.
Malik Talib, Chairman of the Ismaili Leaders International Forum and Mr Mohammed Shael Alsaadi watered a Ghaf tree sapling, to mark this special initiative. The tree symbolises a global commitment made by thousands of volunteers across 30 countries dedicated to protect and sustain our Earth for future generations. The Ghaf is the national tree of the United Arab Emirates, and symbolises resilience, due to its ability to survive and remain green in tough desert conditions.
In a concluding sequence, the 2025 Faanoos was unveiled. The Faanoos, or lantern, became a significant part of the Jubilee Games in 2016. Now, it returns with a new look and Voronoi-inspired design. It will once again embark on a global journey, culminating in a spectacular display at the Opening Ceremony and serves as a powerful expression of sporting excellence.
A new addition to the upcoming Festival is the Connected Cubes, also showcased for the first time. The Connected Cubes offer the opportunity for Ismaili artists across the globe to collaborate and showcase their local communities on a global platform. They will represent diversity and will enable conversations amongst artists, encouraging them to showcase specific skills along with what culture means to them. Hundreds of the locally designed cubes will come together in Dubai, forming a stunning installation with QR codes for spectators to learn more.
An exciting ten months lie ahead, leading up to the GE Festival — see you in July 2025!
