Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, today delivered the opening remarks at the two-day Tolerance in the UAE workshop organised by the New York University Abu Dhabi, NYUAD, at the university campus on Saadiyat Island.

In his opening remarks, Sheikh Nahyan said, "This conference provides an excellent opportunity for us to reflect upon the journey of the UAE, one of the most ethnically and religiously diverse countries in the world, but, at the same time, one of the most peaceful, harmonious and prosperous places on earth. Although the UAE is a young country, it nevertheless has an impressive history of tolerance. Tolerance is the joint responsibility of all the country’s population, and conferences like this help remind us of our united purpose in promoting tolerance. I congratulate NYUAD for holding this important conference that will provide new insights into the UAE’s contributions to peace, harmony and prosperity."

The goal of the workshop was to examine the gap between a body of academic scholarship that considers tolerance historically; and the lived experience of religious groups for whom normative aspirations for tolerance have facilitated their social and spiritual existence in the UAE.

Five panel discussions will take place over two days during which academics and leading figures of religious communities in the UAE will address the gathering.