Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has announced that the pedestrian bridge over the Dubai Canal has been named Tolerance Bridge.
The announcement commemorates the 22nd International Day of Tolerance on Thursday, November 16.
We have named Dubai's one of most beautiful bridges Tolerance Bridge, in honour of this day. Bridges connect people, cultures and hearts. pic.twitter.com/wjGXAw1Co3
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 15, 2017
“Love and tolerance are bridges of communication and a universal language, binding humanity across different languages, religions and cultures," said an Arabic video he tweeted earlier on Wednesday. "These are the foundations of the Emirates.”
It said the nation and tolerance are "two sides of the same coin".
"Tolerance is synonymous with the UAE," said Sheikh Mohammed in a tweet. "It is a fundamental value of our people and an essential element for our development and prosperity in the future."
Tolerance is synonymous with the UAE. It is a fundamental value of our people and an essential element for our development and prosperity in the future.
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 15, 2017
On Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed tweeted another video that framed tolerance as a national “obligation”. It featured footage of the country’s rulers, including its founding father, Sheikh Zayed, greeting religious leaders and images of Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Tomorrow is the International Day for Tolerance, a value deeply cherished in the UAE - our people are among the happiest and most accepting. pic.twitter.com/XuiAUCVwEF
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) November 15, 2017
“Tolerance is an obligation as all people are created equal by God, whether they are Muslim or not," it said. "People from over 200 nationalities live in the UAE in harmony, working together without racism discrimination or intolerance."
The video emphasised the centrality of tolerance in Islam.
"Islam is built on tolerance, love and unity. When Islam says, peace be upon the world, it means peace upon not just Muslims but all people on earth."
It added, "Our UAE today is a light in a dark place, setting a bright example for others."
