By Sarah Abdallah
On 15 December 2018, H.H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed declared 2019 as the ‘’Year of Tolerance’’ as an extension for the ‘’Year of Zayed’’ in 2018. As The Gulf News published last December, this year will focus on 5 pillars: to deepen the values of tolerance, to have the UAE as the capital of tolerance, to accept multiple cultural programs, to focus on the governmental objectives that are related to cultural and religious tolerance, and, lastly, to promote tolerance via media.
The UAE has already planned multiple events to promote the ‘’Year of Tolerance.’’ It started by the visit of Pope Francis in February, and, during March, the Special Olympics World Games will take place in Abu Dhabi to embrace all the differences in peoples’conditions around the world. In addition, the construction of the first Hindu temple began and it is estimated to be opened in 2020. The National newspaper stated that different programs and rules will be introduced to school and university campuses where people of all ages and from different fields can take part in workshops to redefine tolerance through skills including perspective, compassion, dialogue, conflict resolution, resilience and teamwork.
Through the Year of Tolerance, the UAE is spreading its values to create a happier community. It aims to highlight itself as a “global capital for tolerance”.