Op-Ed: UAE And Tolerance Are Two Sides Of The Same Coin

It is no coincidence that the true match between words and deeds is seen in the official position of the UAE, which seeks to spread the culture of tolerance and all the components of giving, which form the foundations the country was built on since the era of its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 15th Dec, 2018) by Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Director-General of the Emirates news Agency, WAM

ABU DHABI, 15th December, 2018 (WAM) – It is no coincidence that the true match between words and deeds is seen in the official position of the UAE, which seeks to spread the culture of tolerance and all the components of giving, which form the foundations the country was built on since the era of its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

The declaration of 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance' by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is a new link in the chain of giving that enhances the values of coexistence and acceptance among religions and cultures in the country of giving, which hosts some 200 nationalities.

Creating a qualitative difference in the culture of tolerance and diversity, rejecting extremism and accepting other identities is based on components from the message by the UAE's leadership which made 2019, in the Emirati people's conscience, the 'Year of Tolerance'. It extended 2018 as the 'Year of Zayed' and was preceded by 2017 as the 'Year of Giving'.

Now it is the Emirati era that has become futuristic, with the wise leadership that makes the UAE, based on Zayed's legacy, thoughts, and values, a model for the country, which is followed by his sons. It is aimed at spreading the love of giving, harmony, cooperation, and equality among mankind and drives the world towards the UAE, the homeland of tolerance.

The values of tolerance and humanity in the UAE have been achieved by the credibility of the message emanating from the wise leadership.

It has brought together the slogans and practices that not only transformed these ties from Islamic law and pure desert conscience into a daily culture that is protected by law, and also leads to protect the production, intellectual, cultural and information movement that enhances tolerance and openness in others around the world.

In 2016, the first Ministry of Tolerance in any government in the world was established in the UAE, supported by laws that combat discrimination and hatred. The country has launched a series of effective initiatives to promote dialogue among peoples and religions, such as the National Tolerance Programme, The Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Award for Tolerance, and the International Institute for Tolerance - IIT. Thus, the country deserved to top the ranking in the Global Index of tolerance with foreigners in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

A few weeks ago, the World Tolerance Summit was held in the UAE, the home of tolerance. It was an extraordinary event in a region and a world full of strife and terrorism. To maximise the effect of this event, the wise leadership declared 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance' which will be the extension of the 'Year of Zayed' so as to make giving a daily culture for future generations.

This will also prove that the UAE and tolerance are two sides of the same coin, which mirrors an eternal human purpose whose priority is the welfare and happiness of humankind.