The President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, met with the Sheikh of Al-Azhar, Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb, at the Al-Shatea Palace in Abu Dhabi. During the meeting, the two sides discussed enhancing cooperation between the relevant bodies in the UAE and both Al-Azhar and the Council of Muslim Elders to establish shared humanitarian values and promote a culture of coexistence, civil dialogue, and peace among various cultures and peoples worldwide. This is based on the principles of the "Human Fraternity" document signed by the Sheikh of Al-Azhar and Pope Francis in February 2019 in Abu Dhabi.
The meeting also addressed the initiative being explored by the Council of Muslim Elders to enhance the role of religious scholars and symbols in supporting development and peace efforts worldwide under the title "Alliance of Religions for Development and Peace" in collaboration with the Republic of Indonesia.
Bin Zayed praised Imam Al-Tayeb's efforts to spread the message of tolerance and human coexistence and to promote a culture of respecting others, in addition to Al-Azhar's pivotal role in presenting the true image of Islam and preserving its noble message that advocates goodness, peace, and harmony.
For his part, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar commended the initiatives of the President of the UAE and his commendable efforts supporting peace and development at both regional and global levels, as well as his humanitarian approach that targets the individual and aims to empower him in various parts of the world.
The Sheikh of Al-Azhar appreciated the "interest that the UAE pays to the issues of the Islamic nation, building on its historical positions in supporting its brothers, especially concerning the Palestinian cause and supporting the Palestinian people on various levels." He pointed out the "efforts of Al-Azhar and the Council of Muslim Elders in promoting the values of peace, coexistence, and human brotherhood, along with addressing hate speech and extremism and working to activate the role of religious scholars and sages in facing contemporary humanitarian challenges."
