Need to accept ‘differences’ at workplace

Dubai: Speaking at a special session on the opening day of the Tolerance Summit in Dubai on Thursday, Dr Nidal Al Tunaiji, member of the Federal National Council and director-general of Zayed House for Islamic Culture, said: “Everyone has the right to be different. Every job has a human and administrative part to it. We must respect each other’s cultural, ethnic and religious differences and not be judgmental. When mistakes occur, we must remain positive and see it as an opportunity to learn from them and increase productivity.”

She said Zayed House, where people from 23 nationalities work together, promotes tolerance by following the principles of trust and credibility, fostering healthy relationships and adapting a culture of plurality.

Surender Singh Khandari, chairman of the Al Dobawi Group and the Gurunanak Darbar Gurudwara in Dubai, said, “Dubai is the best example of how tolerance is practised. It starts with a young age and schools here teach tolerance as part of moral education.”

Kulwant Singh Lama, founder and managing director of the LAMA Group, said tolerance lies at the heart of the hospitality business. “Over 15 million visitors come to Dubai every year. Handling these huge numbers means understanding and appreciating their different cultures and backgrounds.”

The session was moderated by Dr Nouf Al Ghamdi, president and founder, Chief Outsiders Consulting Group, Saudi Arabia.