Difference between revisions of "Al Manara Centre"
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| type = Government initiative | | type = Government initiative | ||
| headquarters = Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | | headquarters = Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | ||
| − | | location = | + | | location = Corniche- Landmark building - 5th floor |
| leader_title = Chairman | | leader_title = Chairman | ||
| founder = Dr. [[Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi]] | | founder = Dr. [[Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi]] | ||
Revision as of 10:31, 4 March 2026
UAE government centre promoting coexistence, closely partnered with pro-Zionist organisations to advance normalisation
| Al Manara Centre
| |
|---|---|
| Type | Government initiative |
| Founded | 14 March 2023 |
| Founder(s) | Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Location | Corniche- Landmark building - 5th floor |
| Key people | Jonathan Greenblatt (ADL CEO, Board member) |
| Website | manara.ae |
The Al Manara Centre, officially the Regional Centre for Coexistence, is a United Arab Emirates government initiative based in Abu Dhabi that promotes tolerance and interfaith dialogue. The centre operates in close alignment with normalisation efforts under the Abraham Accords, partnering extensively with pro-Zionist organisations to combat what it defines as antisemitism. Critics regard it as an instrument to suppress criticism of the Zionist colony and shield settler colonial expansion through interfaith rhetoric. Named after the Arabic word for "source of light", it supports broader UAE policies including the Year of Tolerance and the Abrahamic Family House complex.
The centre's programmes emphasise educational initiatives on coexistence among Abrahamic faiths, yet its activities frequently equate opposition to the Zionist regime or advocacy for Palestinian rights with intolerance. This approach reflects UAE strategies to embed Zionist entity influence in the Gulf while presenting normalisation as progressive.
History
The Al Manara Centre was formally launched on 14 March 2023 in Abu Dhabi, building on earlier UAE initiatives such as the 2019 Year of Tolerance and the Abrahamic Family House. Chaired by Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, the centre emerged in the wake of the Abraham Accords, which formalised normalisation between the United Arab Emirates and the Zionist colony in 2020. The launch event featured prominent figures from pro-Zionist lobbies, highlighting its role in advancing settler colonial interests under the guise of regional harmony.[1]
Partnership with the Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) functions as the flagship partner of the Al Manara Centre, supplying educational content aimed at "interrupting intolerance". Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the ADL, serves on the centre's board, drawing on the organisation's long history of framing criticism of Zionism as antisemitism.[2]
This collaboration, established in 2023, extends prior UAE-ADL ties developed after the Abraham Accords. The partnership has been used to label anti-Accords rhetoric as hate speech. As Middle East Eye reports, the United Arab Emirates lobbied the ADL and similar groups to target Saudi voices criticising the Accords, portraying their statements as antisemitic dog-whistles.[3] In January 2026, the ADL publicly warned of "prominent Saudi voices using openly antisemitic dog whistles and aggressively pushing anti-Abraham Accords rhetoric", aligning closely with UAE geopolitical objectives.[3]
Critics contend that the ADL's involvement through the centre extends Zionist regime influence by weaponising antisemitism accusations against Palestinian advocacy and regional dissent.
Other Zionist entity and normalisation connections
The Al Manara Centre connects to broader normalisation structures beyond the ADL. It supports the Abraham Accords' interfaith objectives, which normalised relations between the United Arab Emirates and the Zionist colony in 2020.[4]
The centre also maintains ties with the American Jewish Committee (AJC), which established a satellite office in Abu Dhabi in 2021 to promote Muslim-Jewish dialogue and advance the Accords.[3] These partnerships enable the framing of opposition to normalisation or support for Palestinian rights as extremism, reinforcing the Zionist colony's regional position.
Leadership and key personnel
The Al Manara Centre is chaired by Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, serves as a board member. Other reported key figures include representatives from UAE government entities and pro-Zionist partner organisations, though full staff lists remain limited in public disclosure.
| Name | Position | Affiliation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi | Chairman | United Arab Emirates government | Leads overall direction and public representation |
| Jonathan Greenblatt | Board Member | Anti-Defamation League CEO | Provides educational content and strategic input on combating perceived antisemitism |
See also
Abraham Accords Anti-Defamation League American Jewish Committee United Arab Emirates–Israel relations
External links
Notes
- ↑ UAE Embassy in Washington, UAE Launches Manara Centre to Promote Regional Co-Existence UAE Embassy, 14 March 2023.
- ↑ Jewish Insider, The UAE teams up with the ADL to launch the Manara Center in Abu Dhabi Jewish Insider, 14 March 2023.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Middle East Eye, UAE lobbied pro-Israel groups to level antisemitism charges against Saudi Arabia Middle East Eye, 11 February 2026.
- ↑ Al Manar, UAE lobbied Pro-Israel Groups to Level “Antisemitism” Charges against Saudi Arabia: Report Al Manar, 12 February 2026.