Today's Edition
SAMIHAH ZAMAN (ABU DHABI)
Over the past 56 years, Aletihad Newspaper has witnessed from the frontlines the UAE's rising influence as a force for global peace and harmony. At the 20th Aletihad Forum in Abu Dhabi, held to mark the publication of the newspaper's first edition on October 20, 1969, the news platform recounted the UAE's role as a global peacebuilder and outlined the nation's achievements in fostering unity over the years.
Speaking at the forum, Dr. Hamad Al Kaabi, Chief Aletihad News Center Officer, explained that the forum's theme, "UAE: Global Leadership in Peacebuilding", was selected in light of regional challenges that "underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive and just peace" to enable universal development, progress and prosperity.
Emphasising the UAE's focus on peace since its inception, Dr. Al Kaabi affirmed the UAE's enduring commitment to coexistence and social development.
"Since its founding, the UAE has affirmed that peace is the only path to building nations, guided by a wise approach rooted in a balanced foreign policy, major humanitarian initiatives, and practical steps to foster dialogue and understanding among cultures and civilisations," Dr. Al Kaabi said.
He stressed that the UAE will always remain a force for peace and stability, continuing to spread hope, sow goodwill, and inspire nations through its humanitarian and developmental work.
Nothing reflects this approach more powerfully, Dr. Al Kaabi added, than the words of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan: "This is Zayed's vision, and we are on this path."
He also expressed gratitude to Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities for hosting the event, describing it as a leading centre of scholarship that embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, whose leadership has consistently placed peace at the core of the UAE's policy and worldview.
Dr. Al Kaabi, himself a graduate of the university, said he was honoured to return as part of Aletihad's anniversary celebration.
"I stand before you today with great pride, as a student of this prestigious university. Despite its recent establishment, it is rich in thought and profound in its intellectual and research achievements," he said.
From this academic platform, Dr. Al Kaabi added, the forum would examine how the UAE continues to translate its humanitarian principles into action through mediation, dialogue, and efforts to ease tensions and promote understanding in regions affected by conflict.
UAE a living example of peace and coexistence
Speaking at the 20th Aletihad Forum, Dr. Khalifa Al Dhaheri, Chancellor of Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities, praised the Aletihad newspaper as a national institution that has long reflected the country's values. He described the annual forum as a " leading platform for thought and a space for sophisticated dialogue".
Speaking at the 20th Aletihad Forum, Al Dhaheri said that when the world speaks of peace, "our vision turns to the Emirates - the Emirates of peace and harmony, of civilisation, tolerance and coexistence; the Emirates of giving that knows no bounds and whose goodness reaches all who need its support".
He emphasised that peace in the UAE is not a policy or slogan but a living spirit rooted in its people and institutions since the days of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed that peace is the basis of nation-building, and that stability grows from hearts that believe in love for the homeland.
"The UAE continues its distinguished journey of peacemaking and consolidating noble humanitarian values, guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, who has made peace a constant principle and a firm approach to nation-building," Dr. Al Dhaheri added.
He added that the UAE's approach to diplomacy is built on understanding and dialogue as tools for achieving sustainable stability. He pointed to the nation's active role in international mediation aimed at promoting regional stability and cooperation.
Al Dhaheri noted that peace is reflected in every part of life in the Emirates - in its mosques that call to mercy, in its schools that teach tolerance, and in its streets that welcome people from all nations.
"The close connection between humanitarian work and peacemaking is evident in the thinking of the UAE. Every hospital built, every child treated, and every village aided is a confident step toward comprehensive human peace."
UAE's peacebuilding rooted in action, not words
Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim Al Dhaheri, Deputy Director General of the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy, said the celebration of Aletihad newspaper's 56th anniversary represents a moment of pride and appreciation for a publication that has long reflected the UAE's national identity and collective memory.
He said the theme of the 20th Aletihad Forum, "The UAE: Maker of Peace," affirms that peace for the country is neither a slogan nor a passing event, but a consistent principle deeply embedded in its foreign policy.
Emirati diplomacy, he explained, is defined by "tangible results that preserve human dignity and [providing] hope to communities exhausted by conflict".
"The UAE has not limited itself to appeals; it has acted, invested, and intervened positively whenever possible and necessary, proving that diplomacy can be an effective tool for relief, and that moderation is not weakness but wisdom," Dr. Al Dhaheri added.
He pointed out that, while the UAE has played a pivotal role in mediating multiple international conflicts – for instance, between Eritrea and Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa, Russia and Ukraine prisoner exchange, as well as between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and India and Pakistan - it has also played a leading role in the provision of humanitarian aid to communities ravaged by conflict.
In Gaza, he said, the UAE has demonstrated its humanitarian commitment through concrete action.
From the early days of the conflict, it launched one of the largest relief operations to support the Palestinian people, delivering more than 70,000 tonnes of food, medicine and relief supplies, building desalination plants and pipelines to provide clean water, and evacuating thousands of wounded for treatment in UAE hospitals. These efforts accounted for nearly half of all international aid sent to Gaza.
"Today, we face a world of increasing conflicts and declining trust, yet the UAE has chosen to be a force of balance and reason - building rather than destroying, uniting rather than dividing, and planting hope in a time exhausted by divisions," he said.
"In the Emirati context, peacebuilding is not merely the absence of war but the presence of development and coexistence, turning challenges into shared opportunities. This message derives its strength from the founders' values, who made tolerance and human dignity part of the nation's identity and political legacy."
UAE's humanitarian role in the Ukraine crisis
Dr. Sergey Nikolaevich Baburin, Scientific Director of the Centre for Integration and Civilizational Studies at the Institute of State and Law and former deputy of the Russian State Duma, hailed the UAE's expanding role in global peacebuilding, describing it as a reliable partner in the pursuit of justice and stability.
"I am honoured today to speak about the important role played by the UAE in peacekeeping, alongside the profound civilisational challenges facing humanity," he said.
Dr. Baburin highlighted the country's strategic partnership with Russia, established through a joint declaration in 2018, describing the UAE as a reliable partner in the pursuit of justice and the consolidation of international legitimacy.
He extended his gratitude to the UAE's leadership for what he called "tremendous efforts in supporting peace, not only in Ukraine, but also internationally", and praised its humanitarian contributions, including the prisoner exchanges it had helped facilitate.
"The Russian community expresses its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the UAE for its valuable assistance in organising air traffic during the prisoner exchanges, for its significant organisational and financial contributions in addressing conflict-related humanitarian issues, as well as supporting peacekeeping efforts on Ukrainian territory," Dr. Baburin said.
He expressed firm belief that the UAE's growing international standing in peacekeeping now positions it to play a leading role in bringing about a comprehensive positive transformation in the Middle East.
"New York and Brussels should not be the only arenas for discussions on global justice; Abu Dhabi should also host forums for the peoples of the world who wish to build a more just and balanced international system," Dr. Baburin added.
