A Celebration of Acceptance

On December 15 2018, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, declared 2019 as the Year of Tolerance. This theme aims to highlight the UAE as a bridge of communications between cultures and expands opportunities for dialogue, while also showing the impact of tolerance on society.

In this spirit, Abu Dhabi hosted the Special Olympics World Games in 2019. The event marked the first time the World Games were celebrated in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) country. It also reflected the UAE’s mission to become a more inclusive society and to promote positive social change for people of determination.