2019 is Year of Tolerance
The UAE is keen to instil the values of coexistence and peace in local, regional and international communities.
abu dhabi — The UAE aims to be the “global capital for tolerance”, with the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, declaring 2019 as the ‘Year of Tolerance’. Through yearround legislations and policies, the UAE will instil the values of coexistence and peace in local, regional and international communities.
This is the fifth time in a row that the UAE has identified a theme for the upcoming year. The announcements see federal, local and private entities aligning their activities to achieve the objectives of the theme.
Sheikh Khalifa said the UAE and tolerance go ‘hand in hand’. “The Year of Tolerance will be celebrated as a national effort towards further advancing a decades-long dream of creating a tolerant and cohesive
society, open to peoples of varying cultures and religions from around the world.”
Signalling the agenda for the year, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the country wants government policies that “further consolidate tolerance
and a deep sense of community. We want to spread these values among our youth and future generations”.
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince
of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, stressed that nations built on values of tolerance, love and respect achieve lasting peace.
It’s a national effort towards advancing the dream of creating a tolerant and cohesive society Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
The UAE must lead the way to consolidate the values tolerance and co-existence Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
The world today needs universal human values to be promoted for the sake of future generations Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
#1 UAE’s rank in the region on the tolerance index for 2016
#3 In the world on the index by the International Institute for Management Development
The year 2019 will be celebrated as the ‘Year of Tolerance’ in the UAE, the President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has declared. It will highlight the UAE as a global capital for tolerance, through its various legislative and policy-oriented goals to instil the values of coexistence and peace in local, regional and international communities.
This is the fifth in themebased observation of years in the UAE, starting with 2015 being marked as the Year of Innovation; 2016 dedicated to reading initiatives; 2017 to giving drives; and 2018 to commemorate the 100th birthday of the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The President said the Year of Tolerance is an extension of the Year of Zayed, as it upholds the values of tolerance and coexistence that the late Sheikh Zayed established among the people of the UAE.
“Instilling values of tolerance carries on Sheikh Zayed’s legacy and teachings,” Sheikh Khalifa said. “It is one of the most important attributes that we can impact on our people and the global community to ensure the safety, stability and happiness of peoples across the world.”
The Year of Tolerance will focus on five main pillars. The first will deepen the values of tolerance and coexistence among cultures and peoples by concentrating on teaching the youth about the values of tolerance.
The second pillar seeks to solidify the UAE as the global capital for tolerance, via a series of initiatives and projects specialised in tolerance and dialogue between various cultures and civilisations. The third pillar will enact multiple cultural programmes and contributions to build tolerant communities.
The fourth pillar will focus on legislative and policy-oriented objectives that contribute mandating cultural and religious tolerance via dialogue. The fifth pillar will focus on promoting tolerance and coexistence via targeted media initiatives and projects.
Bridge of communication
Sheikh Khalifa affirmed that declaring 2019 as the Year of Tolerance reflects the approach adopted by the UAE since its establishment to be a bridge of communication between the peoples of world, and their various cultures. This is done in an open and respectful environment that rejects extremism and emphasises the acceptance of the other.
Sheikh Khalifa noted the critical role the UAE plays in building global tolerant societies, adding that the country has for decades “carried a global message” for tolerance and cohesion.
“We look forward to further contributing towards building societies that believe in the values of tolerance, cohesion and dialogue, and establishing concrete models improving tolerance and coexistence both regionally and internationally.
“Here in the UAE, the Year of Tolerance will be celebrated as a national effort towards further advancing a decades-long dream of creating a tolerant and cohesive society, open to peoples of varying cultures and religions from around the world. The UAE and Tolerance go hand-in-hand.” —