In conjunction with the activities of Tolerance and ‎Inclusivity Week

Zaki Nusseibeh: "The UAE has always worked to achieve ‎justice, transparency and tolerance, and in diversity we find ‎our greatest strength ‏."‏

The College of Humanities and ‎Social Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University ‎organized the second online forum of the International Day ‎for Tolerance‏.‏

E. Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to H. H. the ‎President of the UAE and Chancellor of the United Arab ‎Emirates University, stressed in his speech during the forum ‎that "the UAE's record of religious and cultural coexistence ‎is honorable. More than 200 nationalities are residing in the ‎UAE. Their rights are protected by the law that guarantees ‎them respect and practice of their beliefs, customs, and ‎traditions‏.‏

E. added: "The UAE has always worked to achieve ‎justice and transparency, and prevent fanaticism, extremism ‎and racism. It invests in practices that promote tolerance, ‎understanding and happiness in diversity. The UAE is a ‎living example of how to achieve a peaceful and harmonious ‎collective sustainability. We have learned from the late ‎Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) ‎that without tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and diversity, ‎we cannot achieve sustainability and economic and social ‎prosperity. Thus, Zayed s approach remains the shining ‎light in our current leadership s vision for the future of our ‎nation and its role in global prosperity‏.‏

E. Zaki Nusseibeh said: Schools, universities, ‎vocational institutes, research centers and lifelong learning ‎are more important now than they were in the 1970s. It is ‎necessary to strengthen our cultural and creative industries ‎to introduce, understand and appreciate the world s views ‎and different forms of expression. Diversity is our greatest ‎strength‏."‏

Prof. Hassan Al Naboodah, Dean of the College of ‎Humanities and Social Sciences, said that the forum brought ‎leading international academics to discuss different ‎perspectives on tolerance, and historical and contemporary ‎humanitarian experiences. Participants also considered the ‎relevance of tolerance and mutual coexistence to the ‎development of the modern world. Professor Hassan ‎stressed the importance of interfaith dialogue to global ‎tolerance‏.‏

Professor Hassan said, "The UAE is a civilized society rich ‎in cultural diversity thanks to its multicultural resident ‎population. It serves as a global model for promoting the ‎values of mutual coexistence, tolerance, dialogue and ‎collaborative humanitarian action. Such values are reflected ‎in the declaration of 2019 as the Year of Tolerance by H.H. ‎Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE ‎‎- may God protect him‏.‏

The Forum was moderated by Dr. Ralph Leo from the ‎Department of Tourism and Heritage and organized by the ‎College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the UAEU. It ‎aligns with the UAEU s endeavors to consistently promote ‎international intercultural communication and tolerance, and ‎reflects the College s continued pursuit of its scientific and ‎academic mission.‎