Tolerance in the UAE: A Study of its Progression before and after the Union

This exhibition illustrates how the concept of tolerance has evolved through the social, political, and religious history of the United Arab Emirates by presenting agreements, documents and photographs sourced from the UAE National Library and Archives and the National Archives of the UK. The aim is to demonstrate the value of tolerance both before and after the Union; from the Trucial States through to the transition to the United Arab Emirates.

Tolerance is the ability to respect the rights of others without sacrificing your own ideology, in order to live in harmony with all around you, however different they may be.

Tolerance may be extended through politics, religion, race and other facets of society and the UAE has been a benchmark in respecting and valuing diversity, without abandoning the local population’s own beliefs and values.

In more recent history, it evolved with Sheikh Zayed Bin Khalifa Bin Shakhbut, Ruler of Abu Dhabi (1855-1909) and continued through generations. Every leader of the UAE has produced their own distinctive method of applying tolerance in society and, as evidence of this, the UAE has had, since 2016, a Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence.

The UAE government is strongly committed to tolerance and strives to promote a culture of mutual respect, encompassing everyone without any social, political or religious barriers.

"Cooperation between people, regardless of their diverse religions and beliefs, serves as the foundation of happiness. By fostering cooperation, people unite both the close and distant. No individual, regardless of their background, can solely rely on themselves. And it becomes essential for humanity to share the blessings bestowed upon them by God Almighty." Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan

Evolution of Tolerance in the Trucial States before the Union

Visit of Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem to the Trucial States, 25-27 February 1961. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives of the UK

Abu Dhabi Monthly Diary No. 2 of 1963; Bishop Lewis of Roman Catholic Church presents Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi with the Papal Order of St. Gregory, 28 February 1963. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives of the UK

St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, with a Land Rover parked in the front, March 1963. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan with Mike Daly and Father Barnabas, at the inauguration of the St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Abu Dhabi in 1963, built on the land plot he donated. © Alastair Allen

Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, gives permission to the Anglican Church to occupy the allocated site for building a church and school, 13 May 1963. © Images reproduced by permission of The National Archives of the UK

Donation of a plot of land by Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to the Roman Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi, 22 June 1963. Source: St. Joseph’s Church, Abu Dhabi

Correspondence between Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Mr. Mike Daly, to convey greetings to Pope Paul VI, 29 November 1964. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, receiving a Catholic Priest on the inauguration of the first Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi, surrounded by children from the primary school in Abu Dhabi, 1965. © Neville Green

St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, March 1965. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

Letter from Father Barnabas of the Catholic congregation in Abu Dhabi, to Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, requesting his honorable presence at the opening of the St. Joseph’s School in Abu Dhabi, 18 January 1966. © UAE National Library and Archives

The façade of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Abu Dhabi that was built on land donated by Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May 1966. © BP plc

The interior of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral that was built on land donated by Sheikh Shakhbut Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May 1966. © BP plc

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan inaugurating St. Andrew’s Church in Abu Dhabi, 1968. © BP plc

Extract from the memoir of Sir Albert Thomas Lamb, Political Agent, Abu Dhabi regarding Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s attendance at the consecration ceremony of the Anglican church in Abu Dhabi, 15 February 1968. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, March 1968. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, offers a plot of land in Abu Dhabi to the Indian Orthodox Church, 20 December 1969. Source: St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Abu Dhabi

Tolerance after the Union of the United Arab Emirates

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, welcoming the priest of the St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, accompanied by Sister Christen at Al Manhal Palace, 29 April 1972. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan welcoming Bishop Makarios, President of Cyprus, 24 May 1975. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan hosting an ecclesiastic representative delivering a written letter from His Eminence Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his election, 16 December 1978. © WAM

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan welcoming good wishers on the occasion of Eid Al Adha at Al Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi, 19 October 1980. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan hosting an ecclesiastic representative, 22 February 1983. © WAM

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan an ecclesiastic envoy from the Vatican, 28 May 1984. © WAM

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan welcoming good wishers on Eid Al Fitr, 18 June 1985. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan hosting an ecclesiastic envoy from the Vatican, 11 November 1989. © WAM

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan welcoming good wishers on Eid Al Adha, 2 July 1990. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan speaking about tolerance among celestial religions, Kenya, 1984. © UAE National Library and Archives

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan receiving Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria at Al Bateen Palace, 24 April 2007. © WAM

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcoming good wishers on Eid Al Fitr at Al Mushrif Palace, 12 October 2007. © WAM

Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan receiving the credentials of the Ambassador of the Vatican to the UAE, 15 April 2008. © WAM

Newspaper article on Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan testifying to the UAE’s tolerance under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 5 April 2010. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcoming Abbas Halabi, President of the Arab Group for Christian Muslim Dialogue and other group members, 6 March 2012. © WAM

Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan receiving Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for the Holy See's Relations with States, 26 November 2012. © WAM

Tolerance in Recent Times and the Foundation for a Brighter Future

Newspaper article about Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan reiterating that the UAE under Sheikh Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan promotes peace, coexistence and respect for religions and beliefs, 22 April 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan receiving the Orthodox Church’s Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, 12 May 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirming that the UAE under Sheikh Khalifa Bin Sultan Al Nahyan is headed in the path set by Sheikh Zayed, by prioritizing tolerance, 13 May 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about the Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, hosting Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, 13 May 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi and Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi hosting Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria, 14 May 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan stating that the customs of the United Arab Emirates inspire tolerance, 11 November 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum receiving the Sheikh of the Islamic Bohras. During the visit, they discussed the consolidation of the culture of tolerance and the rejection of fanaticism and extremism that misrepresents Islam, 11 November 2014. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about the visit of a delegation from St. Anthony’s Cathedral to the General Authority of Islamic Affairs, 28 July 2015. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about the law against discrimination and hatred issued by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, 11 August 2015. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about the Prime Minister of India thanking Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan for allocating a plot of land to build a Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, 18 August 2015. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan receiving a delegation of Christian bishops from Iraq, 17 March 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about the statement made by the Bishop of Alexandria about the UAE being a model of tolerance, 12 April 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan’s statement concerning the UAE being the land of peace, tolerance and mutual respect, 11 May 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about the Coptic Orthodox Cathedral affirming that the UAE is a model of tolerance and consolidation of Islamic values during a Ramadan Iftar held in Abu Dhabi, 13 June 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan inviting the Pope to visit the UAE, 2 June 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to the Vatican Library and Museums Complex, 15 September 2016. © WAM

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, during his visit to the Vatican Library and Museums Complex, 15 September 2016. © WAM

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his visit to the Vatican Library and Museums Complex, 15 September 2016. © WAM

الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان يرافقه الشيخ عبد الله بن زايد آل نهيان، أثناء زيارتهما لمكتبة ومجمّع متاحف الفاتيكان، 15 سبتمبر 2016. © وام

Newspaper article about building bridges of tolerance published on the occasion of Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's visit to the Vatican City, 16 September 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance, affirming that the UAE is a beacon of tolerance, 3 October 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum addressing the students of the military academy, affirming that the UAE society is a model of tolerance, justice and cohesion between leadership and people, 7 October 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s statement that the UAE and tolerance are deeply connected, 9 October 2016. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the forefront of Pope Francis's reception during his historic visit to the United Arab Emirates, 2 February 2019. © WAM

Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum welcoming Pope Francis of the Catholic Church in Abu Dhabi, 2 February 2019. © WAM

The Arabic version of the Human Fraternity Document signed by the Catholic Church and Al Azhar Mosque, 4 February 2019. Source: UAE National Library and Archives

Newspaper article about the order issued by Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to establish the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, 6 February 2019. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan asserting that the Monastery and Church of Sir Bani Yas represent diversity, 19 June 2019. © Al Ittihad Newspaper

Newspaper article about Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan stating that the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi is a humanitarian edifice in the homeland of tolerance and peace, 17 February 2023. © Al Ittihad Newspaper