Sheikh Al Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah

Sheikh Al Mahfoudh Bin Bayyah is the current serving Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace. For the past 10 years, he has also worked under the UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs. A seasoned diplomat, he has been instrumental in establishing the Forum’s flagship programmes including the Marrakech Declaration, the New Alliance of Virtue, and the Charter for Inclusive Citizenship in Arab countries.
In the aftermath of 9/11, Sheikh Al Mahfoudh joined the first group of religious leaders to meet President Bush at the White House, after which he participated in several international training programs and conferences focused on countering violent extremism. He also played a pivotal role in the formative years of the establishment of Zaytuna College, the first accredited Muslim liberal arts College in the US.