At a time when governments and institutions the world over are facing crises and their foundations seem to be questioned, the UAE stands tall in its diversity, peace and tolerance of cultures, traditions and people from more than 200 countries. Less than half a century old, it has become a global beacon of unity and progress.
“The UAE is an inspirational place,” says 35-year-old journalist Melanie Smith, a British national. “The country is so culturally rich that there is much to discover about the world through the different people who live here without even leaving. The longer you live here, you can see how different cultures experience a different way of life. But I feel that ultimately people are here because the way of life and their experiences are more appealing than in their home countries.”
Tolerance is such a key plank in official plans for the nation’s progress that the government recently installed a Tolerance ministry headed by Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi.
“Tolerance is a key value of our ancestors and our founding fathers,” His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in June as he launched the National Tolerance Programme.
An example of open-mindedness in the UAE is religious tolerance, evidenced by the 40 churches, two Hindu temples and a Sikh gurudwara in a primarily Islamic country. Combined, these centres of worship for other faiths number more than in all the other GCC nations together.
Tolerance is also being promoted more subliminally. A set of nine bronze sculptures — symbols of harmony, peaceful coexistence, wisdom and spirituality — now stand outside the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince’s Court in Al Bateen. The artwork, created by French artist Guy Ferrer in 2008, spells out tolerance.
“The values of tolerance, respect for differences between people and convergence of many religions in a modern country are authentic qualities of Emirati society and an integral part of our culture,” Shaikha Lubna said on the occasion of International Tolerance Day in November.
Athina Simeonidou, 39, from Greece, who has lived in Dubai for four years and works as a creative director, feels diversity must be accompanied by respect. “It is inspiring to meet people who have different cultures and speak different languages,” she says. “But you need to be open-minded and accept them.”
As a world-class city, Dubai embodies this spirit of acceptance. Little wonder then that the Mohammad Bin Rashid Award for Tolerance recently launched the Tolerance Sign as well as announced Dubai as the world capital for tolerance. It is one of a series of initiatives aiming to develop various communities through humanitarian and educational institutions.
“Working with people of various nationalities has given me a different perspective on life and a range of issues,” says Elroque Pereira, 31, a store supervisor from India who has lived in the UAE for 12 years.
Despite offering an inclusive quality of life to its residents, the government’s efforts have been growing to maintain unity in diversity. This goes to show how valuable tolerance is and clears the way for developing a more progressive society.
