President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt Meets UAE Minister of Tolerance

Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki, President of the Evangelical Community in Egypt and Head of the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services, met today with His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence. The meeting took place as part of Dr. Zaki’s visit to the UAE, where he is participating in several events aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries and promoting the values of peaceful coexistence.

During the meeting, Dr. Rev. Andrea Zaki emphasized the deep historical ties between Egypt and the UAE, highlighting the importance of intercultural dialogue in fostering social peace. He also praised the UAE’s pioneering role in promoting a culture of tolerance through its groundbreaking initiatives that bring people closer and reinforce human fraternity.

For his part, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak welcomed Dr. Zaki and his accompanying delegation, commending Egypt’s role in supporting interfaith and intercultural dialogue. He stressed that joint efforts in this field contribute to building more stable and open societies, reaffirming the importance of continuing to strengthen relations between the two countries to advance coexistence and diversity.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Dr. Zaki extended an official invitation to Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak to visit the Evangelical Community in Egypt, emphasizing that such visits enhance cooperation and the exchange of expertise in the areas of tolerance and intercultural dialogue. In response, the UAE Minister of Tolerance expressed his appreciation for the invitation and Egypt’s leading role in fostering pluralism and coexistence, underscoring the importance of continued coordination and joint efforts in this regard.

Dr. Zaki’s delegation included:

• Dr. Hisham Youssef, Chairman of the Evangelical Church in Dubai
• Rev. Emile Anwar, Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Dubai
• Rev. Boutros Fadel, Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Abu Dhabi
• Rev. Youssef Faragallah, Vice President of the Evangelical Churches in Al Ain and Pastor of the Evangelical Church in Al Ain
• Mr. Momtaz Beshay, Vice President of the Coptic Evangelical Organization
• Ms. Samira Louka, Senior Director of Dialogue Sector at the Coptic Evangelical Organization and Member of the National Council for Human Rights
• Ms. Sona, Coordinator of Church-Government Relations in the UAE

This visit is part of Dr. Zaki’s tour of the UAE, which has so far included the opening of the Arab Dialogue Forum in Abu Dhabi, titled “Towards Effective Management of Pluralism and Diversity in Arab Societies.” The event brought together leading intellectuals, media professionals, and opinion leaders from across the Arab world.