The 7th GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference Launched at Manarat Al Saadiyat

07 Oct, 2019

Under the patronage and attendance of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance, the 7th edition of GCC Heritage and Oral History Conference was launched today.

The conference was held under the theme “Zayed and Tolerance: A Community’s Culture & Leadership Approach” to celebrate the UAE Year of Tolerance. The launch ceremony was attended by HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), HE Turki bin Abdullah Al Dakhil, Saudi Ambassador to the UAE, HE Dr. Yousif Al Obaidli, Director-Generalof the Sheikh Zayed Mosque Centre, Reverend Bishoy Fakhri, Pastor of St Anthony Coptic Orthodox Cathedral Church in Abu Dhabi, and HE Dr. Yousef Al Hassan, GCC Political Expert and Author.

The conference was organised by DCT Abu Dhabi to highlight the UAE’s role in preserving the local and international heritage and oral history. The event also aims to emphasise the values of tolerance in Emirati heritage and the history of the region, which has always served as a bridge of culture between nations and the people of the world.

Day one activities included several sessions presented by researchers, historians, academics and performers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman, as well as traditional Emirati arts performances.

HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan said: “It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 7th edition of GCC History and Oral Heritage Conference, and to express my great appreciation to what is being stressed during these sessions that understanding our history and heritage is our way to the future.

“It also provides a source to shape our identity, inspire future generations, and support the ability of our communities to find creative and innovative solutions for all challenges and issues they face. The conference confirms the special position of heritage in our lives, reflecting to the whole world the achievements and uniqueness of the geographical location, as well as the wise leadership and people that lived here over the years.

“Your gathering here embodies the national duty carried out by every one of you. It is the duty of writing, reading, collecting, documenting and safeguarding heritage from any misguided additions and information. This will help us link the various eras and study the past to develop our future.”

HE Sheikh Nahyan added: “This year's conference focuses on the theme “Zayed and Tolerance: A Community’s Culture & Leadership Approach”, celebrating the Year of Tolerance in the UAE, and the tremendous heritage left by the Founding Father, the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Sheikh Zayed laid a strong foundation to nation that today has become a beacon of knowledge, culture, and progress.

“He was keen to protect the heritage and traditional values, and always believed that preserving Arabic tradition was the way to present our contributions to the world without extremism or bias. He always said that it is our duty to reflect our heritage and traditions in our work to show the world who we are and to make the UAE a nation built on the values of tolerance, compassion, and loyalty to the country and leadership.”

In his opening speech, HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "This conference is part of the cultural and heritage activities that we organise, under the guidance of our wise leadership, which designated this year as the Year of Tolerance. This was aimed to highlight the role of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and cement his values in our culture and behaviour. It also aims to make the UAE the land of tolerance, and Emiratis a model of coexistence, moderation, and openness to all cultures.”

Prof. Dr. Ayed Al Zahrani delivered the GCC countries speech. Dr. Zahrani emphasised that tolerance is deeply rooted in the culture, heritage and traditions of Emirati society, based on the Islamic religion and Arab traditions. His people followed in his footsteps making the UAE a bridge to connect the people of the world, with an open environment that respects other cultures, rejects extremism and promotes tolerance among all segments of society.

The first session was moderated by Dr. Nasr Mohamed Aref, and discussed tolerance as a human value, with the participation of HE Turki bin Abdullah bin Al Dakhil, Saudi Ambassador to the UAE, Reverend Bishoy Fakhri, Pastor of St Anthony Coptic Orthodox Cathedral Church in Abu Dhabi, and Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Qudsi.

The session was followed by a performance on the rababah instrument by Obaid Al Kaabi. The second session was led by Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Qudsi, and was attended by HE Dr. Yousef Al Hassan. The session discussed "Why do we promote tolerance and how can we boost this culture?"

HE Dr. Yousef Abdullah Al Obaidli, Chairman of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque Centre, Abu Dhabi, spoke in his presentation about the role of the Sheikh Zayed Mosque Centre in promoting the culture of tolerance.

The third session was moderated by Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Director of the Programmes and Publishing Department at DCT - Abu Dhabi. Dr. Maha Mishari Al Sajari, Associate Professor, Kuwait University, presented her paper "Culture of Tolerance in the Wisdom of Sheikh Zayed"; Dr. Adel Ahmed Al Kasadi, a lecturer and researcher at the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, presented a paper discussing "Cultural practices and social values promoting the values of tolerance in the UAE society”; and Dr. Noura Mohammed Al Balooshi, Assistant Professor at Zayed University, addressed the methods that have enabled the UAE to become a model of tolerance.