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Abu Dhabi has once again shown the leading role it plays in promoting cultural diversity, tolerance and unity while preserving traditions spanning the entire Islamic world, according to exhibitors and visitors at the 2nd Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Festival, held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance.
Running under the theme ‘One Nation Unified by Benevolent Cooperation, Justice & Tolerance’, the festival, organised by OIC in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, concluded at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre today following four days of cross-cultural performances, knowledge sharing and dialogue on how Islamic countries can collaborate for the benefit of Muslims worldwide.
Coinciding with the UAE’s ‘Year of Tolerance’ and the 50th anniversary of the OIC, the festival served as a vehicle to unite nations from across the Islamic world in a tailored platform designed to highlight the cultures, traditions and values of Islam through essential elements including music, arts and cuisine. The festival acted as a gateway for Muslims to gain a greater understanding of the diversity of their faith, while providing non-Muslim visitors with in-depth insights into the inherent ability of Islam to spread messages of tolerance, unity and harmony around the world.
Over the four days, the festival’s main stage featured 30 performances from groups and individuals representing a diverse range of Islamic countries: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt, Palestine, Indonesia, Burkina Faso, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The main stage also provided a platform for four, thought-provoking seminars addressing topics such as tolerance, cultural heritage and female empowerment.
"The UAE is a leader in tolerance, emphasised by the fact that more than 200 nationalities, people of different religions, beliefs and backgrounds, live and work together in peace and harmony. Abu Dhabi has more than matched our expectations as the perfect host for this festival which helps the Organisation enhance awareness of the broad cultural diversity and traditions across the Islamic world," said Youssef Aldobeay, Advisor of the Secretary General for Political Affairs, Elected Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and OIC General Secretariat.
The festival in the UAE capital provided a perfect opportunity for artists to demonstrate their talents, share knowledge of their traditions and engage new audiences in how Islamic arts can foster a culture of tolerance and unite people regardless of nationality or beliefs, according to those who graced the stage this week.
Running alongside the cultural performances on the main stage, the festival featured 12 calligraphy workshops; 19 children’s entertainment activities – including Hakawati storytelling and puppet shows;16 Tatreez and Weaving workshops at the Palestine Pavilion; 14 painting workshops within the Palestine Pavilion, while the mini stage played host to 30 performances from Oud and Qanun musicians.
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