Dubai: Non-Muslims experience 'true interfaith unity' at Gurudwara iftar; hope for global peace
Ginny Ahluwalia from Maryland, US, was visiting Dubai for the first time on a one-day stopover, when she was captivated by the interfaith iftar at Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara — something she had never encountered before.
Speaking to Khaleej Times on Wednesday at the interfaith iftar held at the Gurudwara, she expressed her awe. "I feel like I'm in heaven. This has been the highlight of my trip to Dubai. We were on our way back to the US from India and took advantage of Emirates' transit visa for a short stopover. Since we had friends here, we thought, why not meet them? I wanted to see the Burj Khalifa and visit the Gurudwara, which I had heard so much about."
'True interfaith unity'
Ahluwalia recounted her experience, saying, 'I was at the Diwan Hall to pray this morning when I met Dr Surender Singh Kandhari, the chairman of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara whom I had briefly encountered in Maryland. He invited me to this iftar, and when I told my husband, we decided to come."
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
"This is simply mesmerizing… I could cry. To witness Ramadan being observed at a Gurudwara alongside Hindu and Christian brothers from different nationalities, this is true interfaith unity. I have never seen anything like this in India or the US. I just knew I had to be here today," she added.
In line with the UAE's values of religious freedom, tolerance, and harmonious coexistence, over 250 people took part in the annual interfaith iftar at the Gurudwara on Wednesday.
The gathering fostered unity and the sharing of blessings during the holy month.
'Rising above hatred, challenges, differences'
Prominent Emirati figure and former diplomat Mirza Al Sayegh emphasised the importance of unity across diverse religious spaces, 'It is a great honor to be in a Gurudwara, temple, church, or mosque — places where everyone comes together as one.
'At this Gurudwara, the leaders organise an Iftar every Ramadan, demonstrating the deep integration of people from diverse backgrounds. This is exactly what we need today — a society where we rise above hatred, challenges, and differences. Name one religion that does not advocate for tolerance and love?
'Religion is about peace, prosperity, tolerance, and understanding. Even in the Quran, I can point to more than ten verses that emphasise these values.'
He further noted that Dubai and the UAE have long been centres of coexistence and mutual respect.
'Under its visionary leadership, Dubai actively fosters cultural and national unity. With 208 nationalities living and working here, people are free to earn, send money home, and build their lives — within the framework of the law. At its core, it's about love and respect. Every culture and religion has its own identity, and we must honor that. This is exactly what the Gurudwara is doing today,' Al Sayegh added.
Celebrating humanity
Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai, reflected on the diverse faiths and nationalities present at the event, a common sight at the Gurudwara every year.
He said, 'It is such a pleasure to join everyone at the Gurudwara for this iftar. As we all know this is the 13 th year that Gurunanak Darbar is hosting the iftar. It is an important part of the Ramadan calendar, especially in a city where people from diverse faiths come together and celebrate humanity as a whole. We all know that the UAE is the torch bearer of inclusivity and tolerance. Ramadan is the time when this spirit comes out to the fore in the best possible way and I congratulate the GuruNanak Darbar for organising this and being the torch bearer of inclusivity.'
Bubbles Kandhari, Vice-Chairperson of Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, Dubai, stressed that in a world often divided by differences, moments of unity stand out as beacons of hope.
'Many VIPs from the country and visitors from around the world have been here. While they didn't come specifically for this event, they happened to be in town. One guest from America was only here for a day, yet chose to spend their evening at this gathering, valuing it more than simply exploring the city. That was truly touching.' she said.
'The atmosphere has been uplifting, with people from different communities — Sikhs, Muslims, and Christians — coming together and intermingling. It was a beautiful display of inclusivity and shared love, something we hope to extend to the world at large. If we take what's happening here and imagine it on a global scale, it becomes clear that this is what the world needs," she added.
Beautiful to be united
Similarly, Lyle Ashby, Special Service Representative for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Al Ain, noted that global conflicts stem from the inability to recognise the blessings that come from connecting with others from diverse backgrounds.
'I am very grateful to be living in the UAE, and I love the fact that I feel safe among so many different people. It is so wonderful to feel like we are all children of God and we can enjoy each other's company, and I think the youth of today need to realise that the diversity of people, religion and ethnic backgrounds…it is one of the greatest things God has ever given us. I strongly believe that God wants us to love everyone, and living in the UAE gives you one of the greatest opportunities I have ever witnessed," said Lyle.
'The fighting and war I believe sometimes, is because of pride. Only if people learn to accept each other and let go of their pride, the world would be so beautiful,' added Ashby.
St. Mary's Catholic Church Dubai shared a similar message: 'It's wonderful to be united, to share with one another, and to live in peace and cooperation. This is truly beneficial for humanity and we should always stand together.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
9 hours ago
- Gulf Today
UAE and Bahrain to boost trade, economic, investment relations
The Bahrain-UAE Business Forum kicked off on Friday in the Bahraini capital, Manama, with the participation of senior officials from both countries, along with representatives of leading Emirati and Bahraini companies. Dr. Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, led a high-level UAE delegation to participate in the forum. The forum comes as strategic relations between the two countries grow from strength to strength, particularly in areas relating to economic, trade and investment relations. Discussions focused on increasing cooperation between the two nations in economic sectors of mutual benefit, including finance, water security, tourism, logistics and energy. In a keynote address, Al Zeyoudi stressed that relations between the two countries are witnessing continuous growth along their path to reach a solid and sustainable strategic partnerships in various fields. Al Zeyoudi stated, 'These positive developments in our strategic partnership are being driven by the forward-looking vision and common will of the leadership of both nations, who seek to boost our relations to new heights in order to achieve the common development aspirations of both our peoples. They are also boosted by positive meetings between President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of the Kingdom of Bahrain.' Al Zeyoudi also reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to building strong regional trade and investment relationships, with Bahrain a key partner in these efforts. He highlighted the deepening and historic economic ties between the two nations, achieved through bilateral and multilateral deals, including the Industrial Integration Partnership for sustainable economic development. Al Zeyoudi restated the mutual vision of securing supply chains, integrating value-added industries into their economies and diversifying their manufacturing base to create jobs. Al Zeyoudi noted that trade and investment relations between the UAE and Bahrain have grown strongly in recent years. Bilateral non-oil trade reached Dhs33.9 billion in 2024, an increase of 23 per cent when compared to 2023. Overall, between 2015 and 2024, UAE-Bahrain trade has increased by an average of 11 per cent per year, the fastest of any of the UAE's Gulf partners, with whom the average growth rate was 8 per cent. Overall, the UAE is Bahrain's second-largest trading partner globally, comprising 10.4 per cent of its total worldwide trade. In turn, Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Kingdom of Bahrain, stressed that the forum reflects the depth of relations and strategic integration between Bahrain and the UAE and represents a new milestone in their partnership. During his opening speech at the forum, Fakhro welcomed Al Zeyoudi and his accompanying delegation, praising their visit to Bahrain and their participation in the forum, which confirms a mutual keenness to enhance bilateral cooperation in various economic sectors. Fakhro explained that the forum is being held at an important time, and embodies the common conviction that economic integration is not only achieved through the exchange of goods and investments, but also through the activation of agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between the two countries, allowing the private sector opportunities to expand and access new markets. Fakhro pointed to the importance of the recent memorandum of understanding on integration in the National Added Value (ICV) programmes, which allows products manufactured in either country to be treated as national products in the other country, helping to strengthen local industries and increase opportunities for preference in government procurement. Fakhro also announced the inauguration of the Emirates Investor Centre at the headquarters of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, as agreed as part of a memorandum of understanding concluded between the two sides. He stressed that the centre will provide facilities and services to Emirati investors. Fakhro expressed his thanks and appreciation to all participants and organisers, reiterating his hope that the forum will contribute to pushing the economic relations between Bahrain and the UAE towards further progress and prosperity. The Bahrain-UAE Business Forum included several panel discussions and presentations, with the participation of a group of senior officials and business leaders from both sides, including a session entitled 'Competitive Investment Environment for Entrepreneurs and Investors in Bahrain and the UAE', and another session entitled 'Growth Gateways - Prospects for Cooperation in Free Zones'. Meanwhile, the session entitled 'Empowering the Financial Future - Bahrain-UAE's partnership in financial innovation' pointed to the promising potential of the two countries in the field of financial technology and the prospects for integration between them. WAM
Khaleej Times
10 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE: New law to protect farms from pests, plant diseases
A new federal law aimed at protecting UAE farms from pests and plant diseases is in the works, as the Federal National Council's Constitutional, Legislative and Appeals and Complaints Committee approved its work plan to review the draft legislation on agricultural quarantine. The decision was made during a virtual meeting chaired by Dr. Ahmed Al Mansouri, Chairman of the Committee. The proposed federal law on agricultural quarantine is a critical legislative initiative aimed at bolstering the UAE's biosecurity and safeguarding its agricultural wealth. According to an explanatory memorandum from the government, agricultural quarantine serves as a vital protective barrier against the ingress of plant pests and diseases, thereby preserving the nation's agricultural resources, mitigating the need for extensive chemical controls, and reducing associated economic losses. It also plays a crucial role in environmental protection by minimizing the use of pesticides and pollutants. The existing Federal Law No. (5) of 1979, along with its amendments, has historically governed agricultural quarantine procedures, including the import and export of plant consignments and related stipulations. However, the continuous evolution and modernisation of global standards, particularly those set by the International Plant Protection Convention, necessitate periodic revisions to national agricultural quarantine laws. In line with the government's strategic directives to enhance and update the country's legislative framework, and to ensure the UAE's adherence to its international commitments stemming from its membership in various international agreements and organisations, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment has undertaken a comprehensive review of the 1979 law. This initiative, conducted in coordination with relevant local government entities, has culminated in the preparation of this new draft federal law. The primary objectives of the new draft law are multifaceted: to prevent the entry and proliferation of pests within the UAE, to protect the environment and plant resources from all forms of agricultural pests, to decrease reliance on chemical pest control methods, and ultimately, to safeguard public health and the environment. The draft law comprises 28 articles, meticulously covering a wide range of provisions. These include definitions and general stipulations, the overarching goals of the law, the Ministry's specific competencies, regulations concerning the import, export, and transit of agricultural shipments, and others.
Khaleej Times
13 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
'No one wants wider war': UAE expert urges calm amid Israel-Iran strikes
[Editor's Note: Follow the KT live blog for live updates on the Israel-Iran conflict.] With tensions between Israel and Iran threatening to spiral into a broader regional conflict, a UAE-based political analyst has stressed the urgent need for serious de-escalation efforts, warning that any large-scale retaliation could drag neighbouring states into the fray. 'No one in the region, including Iran, wants a wider war,' Mohammed AlSawwafi, an Emirati writer, told Khaleej Times, calling for diplomatic coordination to contain the fallout and protect regional stability. He warned that the fallout of the confrontation could reverberate beyond the immediate zone of conflict. 'The possibility of a wider regional war largely depends on how Iran chooses to respond. If the retaliation is large-scale, escalation may follow,' he added. 'However, I believe there will be serious efforts to de-escalate. No country in the region, including Iran, wants this to become a broader war." Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Security concerns in the Gulf The proximity of the Gulf to the conflict zone has already raised alarms. 'There will definitely be an impact on regional stability, particularly through increased anxiety over international shipping routes and the presence of American naval forces.' AlSawwafi dismissed the likelihood of direct Iranian aggression against Gulf states, citing Tehran's awareness of the Gulf's diplomatic efforts to maintain balance. 'Iran knows that many of these countries have maintained positive or neutral stances and would not want to lose that goodwill.' One of the immediate effects of the conflict has been on civil aviation. With Jordan and Iraq temporarily closing their airspace, flight disruptions have already begun. 'Airlines operating in and out of Iran, Israel, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria have started to feel the impact,' the analyst noted. 'And since Israel has stated that operations may continue for days or even weeks, the situation remains fluid.' Gulf diplomacy: Neutral but not immune Gulf states have made their positions clear regarding Israel's breach of Iranian sovereignty. 'They have begun coordinating with regional and global powers to prevent further escalation. The Gulf is not a party to this conflict and will strive to preserve its neutrality. However, given that both Iran and Israel are influential actors in the region, economic fallout is inevitable.' Impact on normalisation efforts The recent strikes are also likely to stall already frozen normalisation talks between Gulf countries and Israel. 'I believe talks on normalisation had already paused after the October 2023 events. Expanding these ties has always depended on key conditions, particularly progress toward a two-state solution — something Israeli leadership under Netanyahu has rejected,' explained AlSawwafi. 'While the current moment is not conducive to resuming normalisation, it could trigger renewed international efforts to resolve longstanding issues, including the peace process.' Oil Prices and Economic Ripples The economic consequences are already surfacing, particularly in global energy markets. 'Naturally, oil prices will rise, especially given Iran's role as a major oil producer. This, on top of the ongoing Russian energy crisis, could worsen global energy shortages,' he concluded. 'Since oil remains the artery of the global economy, any disruption in supply will have far-reaching effects.'
