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Speech by Prince Aly Muhammad Aga Khan
Global Encounters Festival held in Dubai, UAE
July 20, 2025

Bismillah-ir-Raheman-ir-Rahim

Your Highness Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Excellencies, Athletes and Artists, Ladies and Gentlemen.
That we are here today was not a given. Thousands have offered their time, expended their effort and have sacrificed weeks and months to put this festival together.

After a postponement last year, the organizing committee feared it would be forced to make the same announcement once more. But today, and this week, is a testament to the tireless work of these thousands of volunteers. To the patience and foresight of the organizing committee, to the trust of the government of the United Arab Emirates and the trust of every one of you artists, athletes, spectators who have gathered here and travelled from all corners of the world to compete, to connect and to support your brothers and your sisters.
It is my great pleasure to be with you for the launch of this festival. The thousands gathered here in Dubai are only a fraction of our Jamat.

To those watching online, your physical absence is just that. You are present, ever-present in our hearts and in our thoughts. And I hope you’ll take part through coverage on Ismaili TV and through interactive participation in Jamat Khanas and other gatherings around the world.

Whether or not you are here in Dubai today, I do ask of you only one thing – make use of this opportunity.
This year began in an incredibly difficult way. We lost our 49th Imam, Mowlana Shah Karim. I lost my father. We did not, however, lose his Noor or the guidance of Imamat.

Of my late father’s many lasting legacies, Global Encounters represents a very significant one. Shah Karim created GE as a tool for the Jamat, as an opportunity. He wanted the diversity and the pluralism within our Jamat to be felt and to be practiced. He wanted to encourage excellence, to build understanding and cohesion and to strengthen the forces that bring us closer together.

This is a legacy that our present Imam, Mowlana Shah Rahim and our Jamat all together will honour and build on.

Just look at us. Our Jamat spans dozens of countries across six continents. Speaks just as many languages and nurtures traditions from Central and South Asia, the Middle East and more recently, the Western world. Our Jamat speaks every language, works in every trade, studies every field, competes in every sport and creates all forms of arts.

From West to East, North to South we are truly global. We are truly diverse. So make use of this opportunity.
Look to your left and look to your right. Maybe you know those around you and maybe you don’t. If you don’t, then make the effort to learn about them. Try to leave this week with a new bit of knowledge about our Jamat. Maybe a friend in Nairobi or someone who shares a passion in Hunza or in Houston.

Whoever you meet and wherever they come from. I hope you leave this week knowing you have love and support no matter where you go in this world because we are One Jamat.

One more thing, before we begin the festivities, I have spoken about our strength as a global and pluralistic Jamat, but arguably our superpower is our centuries old tradition of volunteerism. To volunteer may sound small, but at its core, it is one of the largest and loudest act.

Our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) tells us that the best of people is the one who benefits others the most.
This week is a testament to our ability to volunteer. Participants – you too have volunteered. The athletes and the artists showcasing their talent this week who are here is a culmination of a long, long journey. Over many months, thousands have competed in qualifiers at the regional and at the national level. Only a small fraction of whom are here today. But you have all volunteered your time, your skill and your talent. And by putting yourselves forward, you have played a vital role in making this festival what it is.

So now, over to you. In ancient Greece, the city states proclaimed a truce each year for the Olympic Games during which time all was put aside to focus on shared bonds and the sacred nature of the Games themselves. We are not ancient Greece. But in bringing together so many people from all over the world, from so many different ethnicities and traditions for a common purpose, Global Encounters is also a great celebration of what unites us.

The next few days will show us the very pinnacle of our Jamat’s skill, craft, talent and passion. So let us savour them. Let your cheers fill this stadium, let wonder fill your hearts, let your applause lift our athletes and our artists to new heights.

I wish the best of luck to every participant and the best of time to every spectator.

Let the festival begin.