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In celebration of the ‘Year of Tolerance’ announced by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) planted a Ghaf tree at the entrance of TRA building in Dubai. H.E. Engineer Majed Al Mesmar, TRA Deputy Director General for the Telecommunication Sector, and H.E. Saeed Al Suwaidi, TRA Deputy Director General for Support Services, planted the Ghaf tree in the presence of a number of TRA employees and customers.
This initiative is an expression of TRA’s commitment to the values of tolerance, giving and generosity, in addition to motivating its employees to promote these noble values and propose ideas and suggestions that enhance the value of tolerance among all segments of the UAE society.
Commenting on this initiative, H.E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General, said: ‘Choosing the Ghaf tree as the ‘Year of Tolerance’ logo by the leadership aims at honoring this tree, which affirms that the values of tolerance are rooted in the soil of the country as well as in the hearts of its people, generation after generation. Tolerance is at the core of the UAE Vision 2021 values, which is based on sustainability, generosity, social cohesion and openness to others. The Ghaf tree has been a symbol of life and hope, a living witness to the historical saga of the people of the UAE, who worked hard, with patience and determination, to transform the arid desert into an oasis of wealth, peace, and tolerance, where everyone lived with love and co-existence, creating a rare model for humanity’.
H.E. Al Mansoori added: ‘"In this context, I would like to emphasize that the Ghaf tree chosen by our leadership to be a symbol of tolerance is also a reflection of the resilience of the Emirati people through the ages amid the difficult living circumstances in the desert. The people of this country have lived with the Ghaf tree side by side; they shaded by its leaves, watered it in the summer heat, and shared the journey of life and giving until today, where the modern towers converge with the Gaf trees in harmony and coherence."
Al-Mansoori indicated that the Ghaf tree has always been an influential element in the Emirati civilization journey. It has spread its shadows on the ground so that the caravans can rest in their journeys, and extended its branches to the local birds and animals. Its woods were used in the construction of houses and the daily equipment industry, as well as for heating purposes in the winter. Ghaf tree has been a source of hope, a sign of good and an omen of survival. This tree has received the utmost care and attention from the first environmental man, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, where he adopted many decisions, initiatives and projects aimed at protecting and preserving this national symbol. He also urged the Emirati people to take care of the Ghaf tree, and plant it all over the country.
Moreover, The Ghaf is a generous desert tree. It is evergreen and survives in the dry and warm environments of the Middle East and South Asia. It is one of the most useful and important trees in the UAE as It is a source of food and shade for humans, pets and wild life.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has adopted the Ghaf tree as the official logo of "Year of Tolerance". Citizens and residents of the UAE celebrate the values of tolerance and human coexistence in a country where cultures and nationalities live in harmony, share work and hope, and build a bright future for all humanity.
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