PRAGUE — The United Arab Emirates has used a high-level international conference in Prague to reaffirm its vision of peace as an active commitment to human dignity, social cohesion, and cooperation across religious and cultural differences. Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh bin Bayyah, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, presented the UAE as a society where diversity can become a source of strength rather than division, Global Arab Network reported.

A Platform for Shared Action

Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh made the remarks at the High-Level Ministerial Conference of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA), also known as the Article 18 Alliance, hosted by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Prague. Held under the theme “Common Action in a Fractured World: Strengthening Resilience and Cohesion within and across Communities,” the conference brought together government officials, religious leaders, international organisations, and civil-society representatives, according to Gulf Today.

His participation in the opening session and the panel “Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue – United to Do Good” placed the UAE’s approach within a wider international conversation on protecting freedom of religion or belief and resisting discrimination, persecution, and social fragmentation.

Sheikh Zayed’s Enduring Legacy

At the heart of the UAE’s message is the humanitarian legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the country’s Founding Father. Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh described Sheikh Zayed’s commitment to protecting human dignity and serving humanity as a foundation for the UAE’s contemporary approach to security, stability, and sustainable development.

This legacy remains visible in the UAE’s emphasis on coexistence, inclusion, and the protection of religious freedom. The UAE government describes tolerance as a “way of life” and a key pillar of policies supporting interfaith dialogue and an inclusive society, noting that more than 200 nationalities live in the country, per its Public and Cultural Diplomacy portal.

The world does not lack shared values; it needs the collective will to turn those values into sustained action.Core argument of Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh bin Bayyah, as reported

From Dialogue to Practical Action

A central theme of the intervention was that peace cannot be reduced to the absence of war. True peace, he argued, requires trust, justice, dignified living conditions, and a culture of cooperation and solidarity across society.

He also stressed that the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace seeks to move beyond theoretical dialogue toward joint action. Its work focuses on preventing conflict before it escalates, strengthening communities against division, and addressing the underlying conditions that enable extremism and polarisation.

Diversity as a Source of Strength

The UAE’s experience was presented as evidence that multicultural societies can thrive when mutual respect and the rule of law are upheld. Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh noted that the country is home to approximately 200 nationalities from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds, making diversity a practical part of national life rather than an abstract ideal.

This approach is reflected in longstanding UAE initiatives. The country designated 2019 as the “Year of Tolerance,” promoted coexistence and intercultural dialogue, and hosted the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity by Pope Francis and Grand Imam Ahmed Al-Tayeb in Abu Dhabi.

Education Against Extremism

The UAE’s diplomatic outreach also highlights education as a long-term tool for countering extremism and prejudice. UAE officials have consistently emphasised that teaching tolerance, human fraternity, peaceful coexistence, and respect from an early age helps prepare future generations to sustain social harmony, as Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed underlined in 2021.

Institutional initiatives reinforce this message. The UAE established a Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence, supports international efforts against violent extremism, and has worked with international partners on initiatives aimed at preventing intolerance and hate speech. See also the UAE Government’s tolerance and peace awards.

A Broader Diplomatic Vision

The Prague engagement reflects the UAE’s wider effort to engage European and international partners on cultural diplomacy, interfaith cooperation, and conflict prevention. Rather than presenting peace solely as a domestic policy goal, the UAE frames it as an essential component of global security and shared prosperity.

The message is particularly significant at a time of rising polarisation and geopolitical tension. By emphasising common values—human dignity, the sanctity of life, and responsibility to future generations—the UAE seeks to position itself as a bridge-builder capable of encouraging cooperation even among societies with different beliefs and traditions.

Looking Ahead

Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh’s core argument was that the world does not lack shared values; rather, it needs the collective will to turn those values into sustained action. He emphasised that religious and cultural differences should not prevent countries and communities from working together to protect humanity and build a safer, more just future.

The UAE’s participation in Prague therefore reinforces a consistent national narrative: sustainable development, regional stability, and international peace depend on protecting the dignity of every individual and building societies rooted in respect, inclusion, and dialogue. Leadership context is available on the UAE Government’s leadership page.