UAE will spread positivity around the world, say residents

Dubai - Being tolerant has been one of the greatest strengths of the country.

The declaration of 2019 as the 'Year of Tolerance' will help UAE residents become more accepting and open to other cultures and ideas, Emiratis and UAE expats have said. The initiative will help spread the "positivity" to other parts of the world as well, they said.
An Emirati student, Shabib Ahmed bin Shabib, said: "In a time of major political instability happening in the world, it's more important than ever to be tolerant and accepting of all people.
We've seen many initiatives take place in the name of tolerance here. We have even become the first country in the world to create an entire ministry to promote tolerance. I truly hope that in the future, we can successfully cultivate a generation that sees humans as humans and nothing else. I believe that our Rulers are taking the right steps in that direction."
Nada Al Taher, an Emirati lecturer at a university, said being tolerant has been one of the greatest strengths of the UAE. She believes that 2019 will be a "great year" in helping residents appreciate people's differences.
"Being an Emirati who was born and raised in Dubai and interacting with different cultures made me realise this is the strength of the UAE and Dubai, generally. What makes us strong is all of the people who live here and contribute to the country's success. Every person in this country plays a big role. We Emiratis are thankful to everyone who considers the UAE their home."
Al Taher is advising people to start searching for tolerance "within themselves and their families" first. "It starts with the relationship you have with your family and then it grows towards people who come from different backgrounds. If you find peace within yourself, you'll find peace within others - it all starts there," she added.
Another Emirati, Fahed Ali, said he wasn't surprised to learn that the country was dedicating an entire year to tolerance. "In the UAE, we have over 200 nationalities. People in the UAE are very tolerant. Everyone here can practise their own beliefs. Everyone is very respectable, and nobody can say anything against them."
An Indian expat in Dubai, Sonia Prem, said learning how to be tolerant starts from home. "We learn tolerance from home and our children teach us tolerance. As a result, they also learn to practise that. It plays a major role globally, especially when there is so much unrest. It's a big blessing and a privilege to be part of the UAE."
Hena Khan, a Pakistani expat and founder of the 'UAE Mums' page on Facebook, said: "I think it's the birthright of every individual to practise their religion and beliefs. The UAE is a land of diversity. I appreciate the President's call, which will have a positive impact on locals as well as expats."
sarwat@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE