ABU DHABI, 10th November, 2018 (WAM) — The Ministry of Tolerance on Friday celebrated a new record in the Guinness World Records, when 1,467 people signed the large plaque designed by the ministry in cooperation with Etihad Airways at the Umm El Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi.
It was signed by many federal and local officials, ambassadors of brotherly and friendly countries, media and full families of all nationalities residing in the UAE on the sidelines of their participation in the National Tolerance Festival organised by the ministry.
The festival has been organised under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance.
The festival began on Friday, 9th November, 2018, and will continue till 16th November, 2018, featuring an international opera show, various musical and symphonic performances for different communities and People of Determination, who were encouraged by thousands of participants.
The ministry also held a number of events at the Umm Al-Emarat Park from 10.00 to 21.00 on Friday, including the permanent exhibition “Zayed the Symbol of Tolerance” which monitors achievements and history of the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It highlights his firm stand on tolerance and peaceful coexistence around the world. The exhibition saw a large turnout of youth and expatriates.
The ministry also organised workshops and entertainment activities for children, special programmes for school and university students, recreational games, free expressive drawings, artistic and musical local and international play. In addition, the “Knights of Tolerance” programme launched by the ministry included a number of workshops for more than 47 people from all emirates in the Grand Hyatt Hotel-Abu Dhabi.
Speaking during the ceremony, Afraa Al Sabri, who conveyed the greetings of Sheikh Nahyan on his behalf said, “I am delighted to be here tonight in the Umm El Emarat Park to celebrate the new world record to gather the largest possible number of signatures in support of tolerance within the launch of the National Tolerance Festival organised by the Ministry of Tolerance.”
“The tolerance march we are witnessing today represents a unique image which confirms that the UAE has managed to integrate the people regardless of their diversity to give the world an inspiring example of tolerance and co-existence that the UAE has learnt from the noble Founder, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who founded this precious nation on the principles of tolerance, coexistence and acceptance of the other.”
Al Sabri expressed her appreciation to all the federal, local and private bodies who supported the activities of the festival. She also thanked Etihad Airways, the Executive Councils of all emirates and a large number of partners, affirming that illuminating the government building in Abu Dhabi with the festival slogan and replacing tags of Etisalat and Du with UAE Tolerance, as well as support of the media, has conveyed the message of tolerance to everyone in the UAE.
Khalid Ghaith Al Muhairbi, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Etihad Airways, expressed his pleasure at participating in the National Tolerance and stressed the commitment of Etihad Airways in supporting the values of cooperation, co-existence and common understanding among all those living in the UAE.
