Nayla introduces Peace Day UAE to H.H. Sheikh Mohammed

On September 1st, I attended a cultural gathering hosted by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

It was truly a night to remember, my feet were so swore I got blisters on my sole's as I wore the wrong heals, I am sure the girls can relate to the feeling.

When I first parked and left my car, the envelope that was organized by the Peace Team was too big for me to bring in. So I just pulled the page with the key points and folded it 4 times (yes not the best looking presentation) but had to carry it in somehow.

I met some incredible contacts that would back us in the future. I could not eat as I was so nervous (which was a shame as every 3 minutes I was offered beautiful food to eat), the atmosphere was amazing.

Then H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum walks in and I am like, there is NO way I am going to speak to him due to the crowd around him, later I found out that I had to queue up to say hello, take a picture and move, we each literally had 15 second max.

So how do you speak about our incredible initiative in 15 seconds, I will have to like think fast and hard. That did not help I still had only 15 seconds shook his hands applauded his vision for Dubai and moved on. Grrrrr

Then amongst the crowd he stood there and I saw a perfect space to walk in - I had my purse firmly under me and walked straight to him, he was talking to someone else and as soon as they both paused I opened my mouth, he listened carefully as I passionately told him about Peace Day and how UAE should move this forward and your patronage would be important, he said OK looked to his left shoulder and asked the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais, to call me to discuss!

The Minister then looked at me and said what is this, so I explained again and joked around mistaking him for someone else I knew, he probably thought this girl is totally crazy. I told him I will give you my cell and he was like... Nayla its me. I froze and remembered, that the Minister, was the same person who sponsored the Scene Club on the opening night. I apologized and said I was too excited pulled the Peace Day UAE paper and gave it to him. He asked me to get in touch with him.

The very next day the Minister called me and arranged to meet us today, I was stunned. The team met late last night to prepare our presentation and myself, Chaira Maoini and Ali Mostafa will meet the Minister today, wish is all the very best of luck as to receive H.H. Sheikh Mohammed's patronage would be an honor and a fantastic help to enable us to drive our initiative forward into the future.

Peace,

Nayla Al Khaja