Four sons are gathered together by their mother to make her a promise — that they would not repeat the conflict and brutality of the recent past, which had caused misery to their people.
The mother was Sheikha Salama bint Butti, and two of those sons would go on to rule Abu Dhabi peacefully for nearly 80 years. For Founding Father Sheikh Zayed, and his brother Sheikh Shakhbut, this early lesson in tolerance would be at the core of their leadership.
Their understanding of the importance of mutual respect and understanding will be re-emphasised in January, as 2019 has been declared the Year of Tolerance.
The sentiment will reflect the tone of the UAE, which claims to be home to people from every country in the world as well as a multitude of faiths, who live and work together in harmony.
The year will see a historic visit by Pope Francis, who will preach to the faithful in Abu Dhabi and take part in an interfaith meeting that will bring together Christianity and Islam, two faiths that represent around 60 per cent of the world’s population.
This interfaith journey began small. The first foreigners living permanently in Abu Dhabi marked Christmas in December 1957 with a service. A priest attended from Bahrain and the prayers and carols were not just authorised, but actively encouraged by Sheikh Shakhbut, who was the Ruler at the time. He told them: “You need your religion as we need ours.”
The arrival of oil transformed the city and hundreds and then thousands of overseas workers followed. Land was granted to build churches by Sheikh Shakhbut and in 1965, St Joseph’s church opened its doors on the Corniche to Roman Catholics.
For Anglicans, St Andrew’s church began services near by in 1968. The huge numbers of worshippers at both churches led Sheikh Zayed, now Ruler of Abu Dhabi, to donate more land for larger buildings in the city’s Mushrif neighbourhood.
In Dubai, Ruler Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed was also supporting Christian worship, with the first Roman Catholic Church opening in 196, while for Anglicans, Holy Trinity Church was completed in 1970.
_______________
Read more:
From Sikh to Christian, religious leaders gear up for UAE's Year of Tolerance
The Pope's visit: The story of the Roman Catholic Church in the UAE
Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple to re-tell ancient stories of wisdom
The first Noël: 60 years of Christmas carols in Abu Dhabi
_______________
Half a century later, the list of religious denominations freely able to worship in the UAE is almost too long to list. There are, by some estimates, at least 33 churches, including Orthodox and Evangelical. In 2013, members of the Church of Later-day Saints, also known as Mormon, opened their first meeting house in Mussaffah.
These places of worship reflect the diversity of the resident population, from the Catholics of Kerala and the Philippines to the Copts of Egypt. On religious holidays their places of worship often literally overflow with the faithful.
There are churches now in Al Ain and Ras al Khaimah. Last month it was widely reported that the small Jewish community had established a synagogue in Dubai.
The Government has long made it clear that it distinguishes between opposition to the policies of Israel and the UAE’s support for the Palestinian people, and its regard for the Hebrew faith.
This tolerance found visible expression with the opening of Louvre Abu Dhabi — in a room darkened to preserve the ancient texts, a Torah from Yemen is displayed next to a medieval Bible and an early Quran.
The freedom to worship extends beyond the three Abrahamic faiths, though. A Hindu prayer hall was permitted to open in 1958 in Bur Dubai, and in 2012, a Sikh temple or Gurudwara was opened in Jebel Ali on land given by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Plans for a much grander Hindu temple, built by Indian craftsmen from marble and carved stone, are being made for Abu Dhabi and is due to open in 2020.
Diverse in beliefs, the proximity of faiths worshipping openly has only promoted religious understanding. Last year, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, observed that “We have learnt from hundreds of thousands of dead and millions of refugees in our region that sectarian, ideological, cultural and religious bigotry only fuel the fires of rage.”
And as his father, Sheikh Zayed once said many years earlier, “to treat every person, no matter what his creed or race, as a special soul, is a mark of Islam".
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.3-litre%204cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E299hp%20at%205%2C500rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E420Nm%20at%202%2C750rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E10-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12.4L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh157%2C395%20(XLS)%3B%20Dh199%2C395%20(Limited)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE v Zimbabwe A, 50 over series
Fixtures
Thursday, Nov 9 - 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 11 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
Monday, Nov 13 – 2pm, Dubai International Stadium
Thursday, Nov 16 – 2pm, ICC Academy, Dubai
Saturday, Nov 18 – 9.30am, ICC Academy, Dubai
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Our legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Scores:
Day 4
England 290 & 346
Sri Lanka 336 & 226-7 (target 301)
Sri Lanka require another 75 runs with three wickets remaining
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Leading all-time NBA scorers
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 38,387
Karl Malone 36,928
Kobe Bryant 33,643
Michael Jordan 32,292
LeBron James 31,425
Wilt Chamberlain 31,419
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
