While growing intolerance poses an enormous challenge to many nations, it is a matter of great pride and honour for citizens and residents of the UAE that the country sets flawless examples on what a truly tolerant society is all about.

I am so happy that the values of tolerance continue to dominate public events and activities in the UAE as part of relentless efforts to promote cross cultural and religious interactions, as well as dialogue and peaceful coexistence, especially during the ‘Year of Tolerance’.

I am also happy that Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Vice Chairman of the Supreme National Committee of the Year of Tolerance, has unveiled a series of commemorative stamps to celebrate the UAE’s Year of Tolerance.

The stamps will help highlight the achievements of the year in incorporating the values of openness, harmony and coexistence within communities, in line with the UAE’s goal of promoting a culture of tolerance and spreading the message of peace.

It’s a pleasant coincidence that the announcement was made at the World Tolerance Summit, which is being organised by the International Institute for Tolerance, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

The UAE has always been a model for its policies towards openness and tolerance established by the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Being the first country in the world to have launched a tolerance charter, the UAE always sees to it that words are matched by deeds.

Hosting some 200 nationalities and letting them live and work in incredible harmony is an accomplishment that most other nations could only dream of.  Various grand mosques, churches, temples and gurdwaras offer indisputable evidence of how the UAE promotes unity in diversity.

I am proud to be residing in such a great country.

R. Srinivasan
By email