89S20780 JRI-F     By: Lalani H.R. No. 73       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, The Global Encounters Festival took place in Dubai,   United Arab Emirates, from July 20 through 27, 2025; and          WHEREAS, Organized by the Ismaili Muslim community with the   collaboration of several UAE organizations, the festival is   dedicated to promoting tolerance and coexistence while showcasing   the power of the arts and sports to build bridges between cultures;   the event marked the first time that the Jubilee Arts and Jubilee   Games have been staged at the same time, and it brought together   4,000 artists and athletes from more than 50 countries and drew an   audience of over 25,000 visitors; and          WHEREAS, The festival featured more than 250 works of art   from artists across the globe through the International Art   Gallery, film screenings showcasing international filmmakers and   their stories at the International Film Festival, and numerous   music and theater performances at the International Performing Arts   Shows; in addition, the event included interactive exhibitions, a   cultural marketplace, multimedia development initiatives,   interactive workshops, guided tours of the Ismaili Centre Dubai,   and a pop-up exhibit curated by the Aga Khan Museum showcasing   centuries of Muslim artistic innovation; and          WHEREAS, Emphasizing fair play, teamwork, and intercultural   unity, the Jubilee Games showcased 17 sports, including football,   cricket, basketball, squash, chess, and swimming, at venues such as   the ICC Academy, Dubai International Cricket Stadium, and Emirates   Golf Club; over the course of the games, a total of 508 gold,   silver, and bronze medals were awarded to athletes across the 21   competing national teams; and          WHEREAS, The festival is committed to sustainability efforts   such as zero-waste targets and low-emission transport; the event   partnered only with vendors that met specific sustainability   criteria, and sourced all energy used at its venues from 100 percent   renewable sources, supported by the procurement of renewable energy   certificates; the festival also promoted the Roots for Change   campaign, which aims to plant one million trees worldwide in   support of the Aga Khan Development Network's 2030 pledge; in   addition, the fashion show Climate on the Catwalk exhibited   sustainable clothing; and          WHEREAS, Global Encounters as an institution operates across   three domains; the first domain of Youth Leadership and Development   includes its Global Encounters camps and international internships   with AKDN institutions; the second domain of Arts, Culture, and   Heritage promotes the arts as a means of celebrating and engaging   with history and culture; and the third domain of Sports and Fitness   emphasizes the importance of physical fitness and the spirit of   competition and teamwork; altogether, the Global Encounters   Festival highlighted all three of the organization's major tenets;   and          WHEREAS, The Global Encounters Festival was hosted by and   supported through the efforts of over 3,000 volunteers on site, and   countless more across the world, demonstrating the virtue of khidma   (service) and the spirit of volunteerism; and          WHEREAS, The Global Encounters Festival brings together   individuals of all ages for a joyous celebration of empowerment,   tolerance, and environmental stewardship, and it is a pleasure to   join in honoring this spirited event; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 2025 Global   Encounters Festival and extend sincere appreciation to all those   who helped bring this year's celebration to fruition.