My desire to create the Foundation draws on several key influences in my life as well as deep-rooted commitments that have guided me throughout.

As a child, I eagerly explored my world through painting, writing and creating. I have always been an instinctively visual person. Perhaps not surprisingly then, this is the way I naturally connect with my surroundings; I experience new things by seeing them first – which explains why the arts and the creative world are so inspiring to me.

I have also had a passion for learning and consider one of the greatest privileges of my life to be the opportunity to meet and sit with inspiring individuals from my own country and from around the world to discuss with them new ideas and new concepts.

These childhood interests have matured into a journey of self-discovery that has allowed me to continually learn and has offered me opportunities to gain knowledge and an understanding of our world far beyond what I could ever have imagined.

My genuine wish to share this lifelong journey of learning and creativity is what led to the formation of the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation in 2010. I believe that when we embark on this journey together we will help each other, our community and our world. This is our opportunity; this is our responsibility.

The work of the Foundation is not only my commitment to this responsibility, but more importantly a professional framework from which to educate, explore and empower each other to collectively create sustainable and lasting contributions.

Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan