On the occasion of the International Day of Human Fraternity, we reminisce with fondness the historic moment two years ago when the first ever papal visit to the Arabian Peninsula was made. The trip also involved the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together. After signing it, Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque in Egypt, together announced "the adoption of a culture of dialogue as the path; mutual co-operation as the code of conduct; reciprocal understanding as the method and standard".
They exhorted world leaders to "spread the culture of tolerance and of living together in peace; to intervene at the earliest opportunity to stop the shedding of innocent blood and bring an end to wars, conflicts, environmental decay and the moral and cultural decline that the world is presently experiencing". That the event happened in the UAE was of particular importance, given the fact that it is one of the few countries globally in which around 200 nationalities and almost all faiths, cultures and languages have co-existed harmoniously for decades.
The UAE's history of tolerance and cultural co-existence is comparable in many ways to the period of Convivencia in Spanish history. First proposed by the Spanish philologist Americo Castro, Convivencia refers to the period of Spanish history from the Muslim Umayyad conquest of Hispania in the early eighth century, to the expulsion of the Jews in 1492. This period under enlightened Arab Muslim rulers was one of multi-faith harmony and symbiosis, which rarely existed anywhere else in Europe at the time.
The rebuilding of Mosul is under way. AFP
The visit in 1951 of Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, to the Vatican – among several other religious centres in Europe – is worth remembering in our present context. It demonstrates that our respect and acceptance of others has deep historical roots. Our early commitment to religious freedom was also reflected when Sheikh Shakhbut, the then Ruler of Abu Dhabi, donated 11 acres of land for the construction of the first church in the emirate. When it was consecrated in 1965, both Sheikh Shakhbut and his brother Sheikh Zayed attended the historic opening. The UAE currently has more than 50 places of worship belonging to various faiths other than Islam. Our pluralism is distinctive in the sense that diverse identities live together here without any pressure for assimilation or self-effacement.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, once pointed out that “when the Arab world was tolerant and accepting of others, it led the world”. He explained that “from the civilisations of Damascus to Andalusia, Arab people provided beacons of science, knowledge, and civilisation, because humane values were the basis of our relationships with all civilisations, cultures, and religions”. Privileging human values, over narrow visions of the self, defined the culture of this land before and after the formation of the Union in 1971.
It is this same legacy that inspired us to partner with Unesco in February 2018 for the flagship initiative "Revive the Spirit of Mosul", which aims to rebuild the Iraqi city from the debris of terrorist vandalism. The project will restore the urban, social and cultural fabric of the Old City and seek to foster reconciliation and social cohesion. It involves the reconstruction of the Old City's historic landmarks, including Al Nouri Mosque, with its Al Hadba Minaret, and Al Sa'a and Al Tahira churches.
The UAE currently has more than 50 places of worship belonging to faiths other than Islam
The message that we want to convey through our partnership in the project is that we resist the zealots who destroy the symbols of our harmonious heritage and cultural values. It is also part of our commitment to fight against the forces of extremism across the globe. Just as we spare no effort in keeping the UAE a pluralistic safe haven, we also contribute to global initiatives against extremism and terrorism. Our vision of tolerance and acceptance is also a central aspect of our humanitarian operations around the globe. We offer aid and support to suffering people anywhere, regardless of their creed, colour or ethnicity.
As we observe the International Day of Human Fraternity, we need to remember that we are in the middle of a global pandemic that has held humanity hostage for almost an entire year. If there is one lesson to learn from our experience of the virus, it is this: our safety and security as human beings can be ensured only if we set aside narrow, identity-obsessed obstinacies and embrace all humankind with humility and love. As a nation, we remain committed to the promotion of tolerance and pluralism, both in terms of ethical principles and pragmatic considerations.
Noura Al Kaabi is the UAE’s Minister of Culture and Youth
Last five meetings
2013: South Korea 0-2 Brazil
2002: South Korea 2-3 Brazil
1999: South Korea 1-0 Brazil
1997: South Korea 1-2 Brazil
1995: South Korea 0-1 Brazil
Note: All friendlies
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.
What does it cost?
Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.
What will the interest rate be?
The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts
What about security?
The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.
Is it easy to use?
Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision.
