Page 337 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2025 Part 1

3/3/25, 11:53 AM Watch: UAE minister wins hearts by running in Kerala, India, in tribute to Year of Community

Special invitee

The Minister’s participation, which took place during his visit to Kerala for the ‘Invest Kerala
Global Summit,’ came at the special invitation of Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, UAE-based global

healthcare entrepreneur and mentor of the event.

The UAE’s 2025 theme, the ‘Year of Community’, encourages active contributions to society

through community service, volunteering, and impactful initiatives. It aims to promote a culture of
shared responsibility and drive collective progress.

In alignment with this vision, the minister participated in the 5km ‘Year of Community’ Run,
running alongside Dr Shamsheer, Chairman and Managing Director of Abu Dhabi-headquartered

VPS Healthcare, and more than 100 participants, reinforcing the importance of inclusivity and

community engagement.

AN Shamseer, Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, flagged off the run, kicking off an event

that saw enthusiastic participation from various segments of society who held a banner carrying the
name Year of Community Run and images of the flags of both the UAE and India.

Deep-rooted ties

Both the countries share deep-rooted economic, cultural, and community-driven ties. With more

than one million Keralites forming a majority of the four million-strong Indian expat community

calling the UAE their second home, the ‘Year of Community Run’ also served as a platform to raise

awareness about community service initiatives among expatriates, reinforcing the spirit of unity and

shared responsibility.

“We are honoured to have the minister join us for this special event. His presence has elevated the
theme and spirit of the ‘Year of Community Run.’ We hope such initiatives will continue to

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