Mintimer Shaimiev departed for Saudi Arabia

March 8, RT President Mintimer Shaimiev flew off to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a working visit.
On the agenda are business meetings and a presentation of Tatarstan at the King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies in Riyadh. The President is also to take part in the meeting to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the King Faisal International Prize and the awards ceremony of the King Faisal prize 2008.
In February 2007, in presence of Russian President Vladimir Putin Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abd Allah bin Abd Al-Aziz presented Mintimer Shaimiev with the King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam in recognition of his contribution to the revival of culture and Islamic values in the republic.
It is noteworthy that this year the Prize in the nomination ‘For Service to Islam’ was awarded to King Abd Allah for implementation of a number of important economic, educational, housing and social projects, his efforts to solve problems of the Arab ummah and the Islamic world.
This year is seeing the 30th anniversary of the King Faisal International Prize – one of the most prestige prizes in the world.
The King Faisal Centre for Research and Islamic Studies, where Mintimer Shaimiev is to present a lecture about Tatarstan, is a part of the King Faisal Foundation. The Foundation was established in 1976 by sons of the late King Faisal.
Last year, the President donated the prize to charity, including the construction of the Main Mosque in Moscow and to Russian Islamic University in Kazan.