Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican last year. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican last year. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince CourtShow more

How the UAE is actively promoting dialogue and understanding between different cultures and religions



In 2016, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced an unprecedented restructuring of the Federal Government, with the creation of new ministries, including tolerance, happiness and youth affairs departments.

Sheikh Mohammed stated: “We have learned from events in our region over the past five years … [that] we need to study, teach and practice tolerance – and to instill it in our children, both through education and our own example… We have learned from hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of refugees in our region that sectarian, ideological, cultural and religious bigotry only fuel the fires of rage.”

Since it was established in 1971, the UAE has managed to consolidate its image as a promoter of peace and symbol of tolerance. This was thanks to the late Sheikh Zayed, who laid the foundation of such an image in the UAE community. He was merciful and tolerant in his treatment of others. His generosity and humanitarian initiatives reached out to nations all over the world. He once said: “To treat every person, no matter what his creed or race, as a special soul, is a mark of Islam. It is just that point, embodied in the humanitarian tenets of Islam, that makes us so proud of it.” He believed in human diversity as an opportunity for mutual acquaintance, collaboration and building relations.

This approach has been consolidated by Sheikh Khalifa and has become a reality in this generous country that hosts nearly 200 nationalities, representing a wide variety of cultures, religions and races coexisting in peace, tolerance and harmony.

The country has issued legislation and laws that criminalise terrorism, extremism and incitement to hatred. This includes the Anti-Discrimination Law, which criminalises all acts related to contempt of religions or holy sites and all forms of hate speech.

Such legislation protects faiths, ensures the freedom of worship and emphasises tolerance within the system of values, customs and traditions that govern society. Moreover, the country has hosted and sponsored meetings of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, which has set up the Muslim Council of Elders, bringing together a distinguished group of enlightened religious scholars and intellectuals.

Within this context, many centres have been created, including Hedayah, the International Center of Excellence for Countering Violent Extremism and the Sawab Centre, to tackle radical, extremist and hate speech that distorts the image of Islam and Muslims, and to promote the noble Islamic values that call for tolerance, dialogue and coexistence between nations.

The UAE has also introduced itself as a unique model in the world in terms of its openness to other nations, strengthening the values of diversity and coexistence. It will host branches of prestigious world museums, including the Louvre and Guggenheim, and has established branches of distinguished international universities, including Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi and New York University Abu Dhabi, making the country a crossroads of civilisations and an area of interaction between different cultures. The UAE has also been actively promoting dialogue and understanding between different cultures and religions.

In this context, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, met Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican in September 2016. This reflects our wise leaders’ strong belief in the values of tolerance, dialogue and coexistence between religions, and confirms their firm determination to promote such values worldwide.

The value of tolerance and the culture of giving have characterised the behaviour of Emiratis throughout history. After the UAE was established in 1971, these values have been preserved to reflect the civilised image of the country, which originate from Sheikh Zayed, whose legacy has been secured by his sons, from the noble Islamic values that call for tolerance, coexistence and moderation and, thirdly, from the Emirati ethics that have been sustained by a set of deeply-rooted Arab customs. Finally, the UAE Constitution and international conventions have provided a legal framework that ensures the protection and sustainability of these values. Therefore, it is no wonder that such bases form the main pillars of the National Tolerance Programme. This centres on various principles, including enhancing the role of the government to foster tolerance, strengthening the role of the close-knit family in establishing a tolerant community, consolidating the values of tolerance among youth to protect them against extremism, contributing to the international efforts to instill the values of tolerance and shedding light on the role of the UAE as a tolerant country.

The creation of the Ministry of State for Tolerance does not only aim to preserve the values of tolerance and coexistence that are already the norm in the UAE community, and introduce initiatives that stimulate and promote these values locally, regionally and globally, but it also aims to deliver a noble Emirati message to the world. This message states that instilling the values of tolerance, coexistence and respect of cultural diversity and denouncing speeches that incite hate, extremism and rejection of others must be at the forefront of national and international priorities. Such measures are the only way to achieve security, stability and peace.

The UAE’s unique step in creating the Ministry of State for Tolerance, and appointing Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi to head this portfolio, will consolidate the image of the UAE, both regionally and globally. It will make the UAE a fortress against all forms of extremism and hatred, and announce the country as a globally leading model in terms of government action that inspires other nations.

Dr Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi is the director general of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research

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Q&A with Dash Berlin

Welcome back. What was it like to return to RAK and to play for fans out here again?
It’s an amazing feeling to be back in the passionate UAE again. Seeing the fans having a great time that is what it’s all about.

You're currently touring the globe as part of your Legends of the Feels Tour. How important is it to you to include the Middle East in the schedule?
The tour is doing really well and is extensive and intensive at the same time travelling all over the globe. My Middle Eastern fans are very dear to me, it’s good to be back.

You mix tracks that people know and love, but you also have a visually impressive set too (graphics etc). Is that the secret recipe to Dash Berlin's live gigs?
People enjoying the combination of the music and visuals are the key factor in the success of the Legends Of The Feel tour 2018.

Have you had some time to explore Ras al Khaimah too? If so, what have you been up to?
Coming fresh out of Las Vegas where I continue my 7th annual year DJ residency at Marquee, I decided it was a perfect moment to catch some sun rays and enjoy the warm hospitality of Bab Al Bahr.

 

The biog

Favourite Emirati dish: Fish machboos

Favourite spice: Cumin

Family: mother, three sisters, three brothers and a two-year-old daughter

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs

Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors

Power: 480kW

Torque: 850Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)

On sale: Now

The%20specs
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Results

5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (Dirt) 1,000m, Winner: Hazeem Al Raed, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ahmed Al Shemaili (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 85,000 (D) 1,000m, Winner: Ghazwan Al Khalediah, Hugo Lebouc, Helal Al Alawi

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,400m, Winner: Dinar Al Khalediah, Patrick Cosgrave, Helal Al Alawi.

6.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Faith And Fortune, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.

7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Only Smoke, Bernardo Pinheiro, Abdallah Al Hammadi.

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: AF Ramz, Saif Al Balushi, Khalifa Al Neyadi.

8pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 70,000 (D) 2,000m, Winner: AF Mass, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.

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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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A timeline of the Historical Dictionary of the Arabic Language
  • 2018: Formal work begins
  • November 2021: First 17 volumes launched 
  • November 2022: Additional 19 volumes released
  • October 2023: Another 31 volumes released
  • November 2024: All 127 volumes completed
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol

Power: 154bhp

Torque: 250Nm

Transmission: 7-speed automatic with 8-speed sports option 

Price: From Dh79,600

On sale: Now

The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Ticket prices
  • Golden circle - Dh995
  • Floor Standing - Dh495
  • Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
  • Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
  • Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
  • Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
  • Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
  • Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
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Mubadala World Tennis Championship 2018 schedule

Thursday December 27

Men's quarter-finals

Kevin Anderson v Hyeon Chung 4pm

Dominic Thiem v Karen Khachanov 6pm

Women's exhibition

Serena Williams v Venus Williams 8pm

Friday December 28

5th place play-off 3pm

Men's semi-finals

Rafael Nadal v Anderson/Chung 5pm

Novak Djokovic v Thiem/Khachanov 7pm

Saturday December 29

3rd place play-off 5pm

Men's final 7pm

The biog

Hometown: Birchgrove, Sydney Australia
Age: 59
Favourite TV series: Outlander Netflix series
Favourite place in the UAE: Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque / desert / Louvre Abu Dhabi
Favourite book: Father of our Nation: Collected Quotes of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Thing you will miss most about the UAE: My friends and family, Formula 1, having Friday's off, desert adventures, and Arabic culture and people
 

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Publisher:  Activision
Console: PlayStation 4 & 5, Windows, Xbox One & Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5

The specs

Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE SPECS

Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder

Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)

Power: 141bhp 

Torque: 250Nm 

Price: Dh64,500

On sale: Now

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
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  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
Company%20Profile
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