Cultures in Conversation: Openness and the Path to Prosperity

Tolerance as the Key to Progress

Kinship, belonging, exchange, and acceptance – these are cornerstones of the UAE identity, harking back to ancient times when the concept of social cohesion – unique to desert peoples – rhythmed our lives. Today, our social glue is strained by an increasingly polarised world, yet national initiatives to foster belonging and sustain communities abound. Looking back through UAE history – from the early impulses to initiate education and articulate culture to recent inclusion-driven policy – we see that this openness is not the by-product of statecraft, but rather has been hardwired into our culture for millennia. This intimate and engaging conversation will unite prominent UAE voices in diplomacy, culture and education. Their thoughts connect the dots between our history and today’s society with tolerance at its core. The moderated conversation offers a platform for Expo 2020 Dubai audience to ask the esteemed speakers their questions.

Participants