Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, and Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development organized a community event that brought together a number of officials, clerics and community leaders to celebrate humanity, fraternity and the values of tolerance, coexistence and world peace. The Peace Gathering, held on Friday, 1 February at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi, featured a series of community events, including musical performances and film screening.

HE. Sheikh Nahyan Mubarak Al Nahyan: “Today, we celebrate the visit of His Holiness Pope Francis and of His Eminence, and the Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh Ahmad El Tayeb. This is an important cultural event that highlights the values of tolerance, cooperation and human progress that have been an important part of the UAE’s development since its inception. His Holiness the Pope, and His Eminence the Sheikh of Al Azhar are both global symbols of peace, compassion and brotherhood.

The UAE is a country which is firmly rooted in its Arabic and Islamic beliefs and heritage. From this sound foundation, we are able to confidently and peacefully interact with those from other cultures and religions. Today’s event is a continuation of our desire to better understand others, and to share our own culture with the world.

HE Noura Al Kaabi said: “The Peace Gathering is held in celebration of the historic visit of His Holiness Pope Francis of the Catholic Church and His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al Azhar Mosque Dr. Ahmed El Tayeb. The UAE offers a unique model of peaceful coexistence between its diverse community of residents that has warranted recognition and respect from the region and beyond. The UAE was founded on the values of justice, tolerance and acceptance of others, and we are keen to uphold these values for future generations”.

Al Kaabi noted that the UAE society has never exhibited signs of intolerance or violence arising from intellectual or cultural conflict that could threaten the stability of the society. She pointed out that the proliferation of places of worship for people of different faiths is a prominent manifestation of tolerance and pluralism in the UAE, as people can frely practice their religious rituals.

Al Kaabi noted that cultural diversity is the gateway to tolerance and peaceful coexistence. It can also contribute to economic development and progress, as dialogue between cultures and civilisations contributes to strengthening the foundations of societies and building alliances that serve the future generations.

The Peace Gathering programme embraced the spirit of community celebration as an important means of building bridges and spreading the message of tolerance and intercultural dialogue. The event opened with a welcome message from HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and featured performances by a group of vocalists, which was accompanied by sign language for the hearing-impaired. Emirati Malid, a form of traditional Emirati chanting was performed by Fatimah Al Hashimi. Abdullah Al Nuaimi performed a song accompanied by oud, piano and saxophone players. The Gospel Choir gave an outstanding performance with a poignant message of tolerance and brotherhood, and emphasised the role of the UAE in building an open and free society.

The event also featured a spectacular performance by Badia Hamdan Al Ameri and Laila Kardan, followed by screening of the documentary A Man of His Word showcasing the life and journey of His Holiness Pope Francis. The gathering concluded with a performance of ‘Lean On Me’ that brought together citizens and residents from the region and beyond, as candles were lit in celebration of human solidarity.