“This is your second home,” Shaikha Lubna addressed the crowd. “Thank you for everything you have given to this country. I would like to say that everyday is tolerance day in the UAE,” she added.

Each religious group held a large white tolerance flag up high as they walked in the parade, celebrating tolerance and unity.

Dressed in their religious costumes, the crowd included monks, church priests, and sheikhs, among others who participated in their traditional dresses.

The parade went round Burj Park, with adults, families, and schoolchildren walking to a medley of tunes played across the park to represent different nationalities.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be here today, I have lived here for more than 20 years and I consider it my home now. We are always aware we are in a host country and naturally we want to respect the local population’s feelings and culture. So to be brought out like this and appreciated for our contribution to this culture and our own culture itself is absolutely wonderful,” said Rubesh Pillai, from the Buddhist community in Dubai, as he pointed at the Sri Lankan group taking part in the parade.

Pillai described the UAE as “a safe heaven” in the midst of a region of conflict, pointing out that while you may meet people from more than 20 nationalities a day, the UAE’s residents are able to live in harmony.

“Today represents the diversity we have in Dubai and it’s a great pleasure to be a part of it. So fortunate to see the Dubai government allow us the opportunity to worship freely. I arrived here 10 days ago and it is a wonderful place. I could not have imagined a place in the Middle East to have such diversity,” said Chinese Harry Ching, assistant curate at Christchurch Jebel Ali..

Meanwhile, Bubbles Kandhari, wife of the chairman of the Gurudwara Sikh place of worship in Dubai, described the festive atmosphere at the parade as “wonderful”.

“It is so lovely to see everyone here together, and it is such a beautiful feeling to celebrate tolerance, harmony and peace,” said the Dubai resident of 40 years.

High school students from Al Maaref Private School also participated in the parade, wearing printed T-shirts to spread the message of tolerance.

“I’ve lived in Dubai for 13 years and I love it. I have friends from different countries, and I have never felt any discrimination here. We have come here as a team today to celebrate being a part of this country,” said 14-year-old Fatima Abdul Hadi from Iraq.

Sharing the same feelings were a group of friends from Latin America waving their white flags as they showcased their traditional dress. “This is a very important event for us to be a part of. The meaning of tolerance is for us all to get along and respect each other and live in love and peace,” said Mexican Maria Lesindo, a Dubai resident of five years.

“We need to be connected for the success of humanity despite differences in religion and culture,” said her friend, Blanchi Talentido, from Ecuador.

During the event, hundreds of tweets and messages were posted on social media channels under the slogan #tolerance_unites_us.

The initiative represents the UAE’s unified model of tolerance and non-discrimination, which highlights the coexistence of more than 200 nationalities in the country, who live as a harmonious peaceful community.

UAE most tolerant in the region

The UAE was ranked first regionally and third globally in the Tolerance Index of the 2016 Yearbook issued by the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland.

“What makes us proud is not the height of our buildings, but rather the openness and tolerance of our nation,” tweeted Shaikh Mohammad on the eve of International Tolerance Day.

“Our pride stems from the fact that we are a country where everyone thrives equally regardless of their differences,” he added.

That evening, Sheikh Mohammad also sent a directive to the Ministry of Tolerance, to strictly implement the UAE’s Anti-Discrimination Law, and apply its provisions on all sections of society, including social media platforms.

The new law against any form of discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed, doctrine, race, colour or ethnic origin, was issued by the federal government in July last year.

The law, passed by a decree of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, criminalises acts that are deemed to stoke religious hatred.

International Day of Tolerance, which falls on November 16 every year, was adopted by UNESCO during its 28th session in Paris in 1995, with the aim of promoting human, moral and legal values.

It further calls for rejecting all forms of intolerance, fanaticism, acts of violence, terrorism, aggressive conflicts, marginalisation and discrimination against national, ethnic, religious, linguistic minorities, as well as refugees, migrant workers and vulnerable groups within communities.