In the UAE, tolerance is a way of life and a key pillar of the government’s policies to protect religious freedoms, promote interfaith dialogue and build an inclusive culture that values difference.
With over 200 nationalities living together, the UAE is one of the most diverse countries in the world, where practitioners of numerous faiths live and worship freely side-by-side.
Since before the country’s founding in 1971, UAE society has encouraged tolerance, inclusivity and equality – and it is for this reason that different religions have built over 50 churches, two Hindu temples, a Sikh temple and a Buddhist temple, which welcome multi-national congregations.
Each year, the UAE welcomes visitors and residents from across the world who come from different cultures and have varying interests and lifestyles. These millions of people coexist in harmony in the UAE, as a result of the country’s continued efforts to enhance its laws and regulations to ensure its diverse and dynamic society can thrive.
The UAE’s commitment to religious tolerance is anchored in the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan the founding father of the UAE, who was dedicated to building a society “based on justice and brotherliness among all those living in the UAE”.
Importantly, tolerance is not just a value underpinning UAE society, but a keystone human right, which is protected as a necessary component of a just and egalitarian society, where all citizens and residents can live meaningful and happy lives.