Why Dubai and The UAE

The world’s first Ministry of Tolerance and Peaceful Coexistence was established in the UAE. Governmental departments are working to introduce programs and projects to instill values of mutual respect and understanding, while a range of programmatic, infrastructural and other initiatives of the UAE authorities help to promote tolerant values in the country.

The United Arab Emirates — a common home for more than 200 nationalities living in harmony with each other. On the world stage, the young independent state has become a powerful incubator of values of unity, peace and cultural diversity, a beacon of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and dialogue.

“The values of tolerance and their inculcation are at the core of Sheikh Zayed’s teachings. It is one of the most important values we can instill in the people and the global community to ensure the security, stable development and happiness of people around the world.” —

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, late president of the UAE

Zayed bin Sultan developed a vision
for the UAE’s political and economic development based on building strong infrastructure, developing education and healthcare, and attracting investment in various sectors of the economy. He sought to create an open and tolerant society where people from different cultures and religions could live in peace and harmony. As a result of his efforts, the UAE has become one of the fastest growing countries in the world with a high standard of living and economic stability.

Building on the legacy of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President Emir Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Emir Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, bring with them the blessings of peace and a message
of peace to the region and its people, promoting values of tolerance, harmony and learning.

The main provisions of the The Abraham Accords are the establishment of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel, the opening of embassies and the development of cooperation in the fields of economy, science, tourism and culture.

The UAE was the first country in the Arab world to establish full diplomatic relations with Israel. This opened up new opportunities for peaceful coexistence and cooperation between the countries in various fields and was an important step in the stabilization and prosperity of the region.

The United Arab Emirates signed the The Abraham Accords with the State of Israel in September 2020 as an important and courageous step towards promoting the values of peaceful coexistence, which was a significant step towards a peaceful settlement in the Middle East and the establishment of peace and security for the peoples of the region.

However, it was in Dubai that the first synagogues were opened - the Ashkenazi synagogue known as “The Villa,” which was opened about 10 years ago in the private home of a South African diplomat. And a Sephardic synagogue, located in the private residence of the UAE Chief Rabbi Levi Dukhman, who arrived in Dubai from Morocco nine years ago.

Proof of the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to peaceful coexistence is the Abrahamic Family House. It is an impressive structure built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi that includes a mosque, a church, a synagogue and an educational center all in one place. This interfaith complex, which will serve as a center for interfaith dialogue and understanding, the “House of Abraham’s Religions,” should be the physical embodiment of the Document on Human Fraternity signed by Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, during the pontiff’s landmark visit to the UAE in 2019.

Dubai

And a logical step in the process of strengthening peace and values in the UAE could be the Dubai Jewish Film Festival, a platform for inspiring mutual understanding and harmony between people, built on a symbiosis of respect for Jewish culture and love for cinema.

Against the backdrop of a global crisis in international relations, as well as a crisis in inter-state cultural interaction, Dubai is becoming a center of attraction for culture from around the world and a space for genuine dialogue. Dubai has also become a global hub for finance and tourism due to its high level of tolerance and hospitality, coupled with world-class infrastructure and services.