International Day for Tolerance: From a Global Vision to Practical Steps

Our commitment to building bridges between cultures is rooted in education, research, and dialogue. The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Academic Centers embody a comprehensive vision that believes knowledge is the cornerstone for fostering global awareness, cultural integration, and cooperation among nations. These centers, established at some of the world’s most prestigious universities: Harvard University, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, Georgetown University, the American University of Beirut, and the American University in Cairo, serve as leading platforms for producing and exchanging knowledge through innovative academic programs and purposeful awareness initiatives.

In addition to these efforts, three advanced centers and programs have been launched to expand academic impact in the fields of healthcare, biomedical research, and cross-cultural education: the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Institute for Computational Biomedicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in the United States, the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Awards for Promoting Understanding at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Research Fellowship Award at the Dubai Harvard Foundation for Medical Research in Dubai.

These centers operate in coordination and collaboration, giving their activities and programs a global dimension and enhancing their academic and cultural impact worldwide. They focus on producing, disseminating, and exchanging sustainable knowledge through innovative academic programs and comprehensive awareness activities held at leading global universities. By establishing academic centers at renowned universities and partnering with advanced programs and initiatives, the foundation actively seeks to promote intercultural understanding and encourage constructive dialogue. This strengthens robust connections and reinforces principles of coexistence and respect among different religions. This commitment not only enhances cultural relations but also contributes to creating a positive and transformative impact on human connections, fostering efforts to build interconnected and understanding communities.

The Alwaleed Cultural Network is our digital platform that represents a significant step toward promoting cultural understanding and providing free educational and artistic resources for all, enabling access to global cultural knowledge in innovative ways.

The Alwaleed Cultural Network reflects our vision for a more inclusive and connected world. The network links 13 leading institutions worldwide, including HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal’s academic and cultural centers and other institutions supported by Alwaleed Philanthropies, such as the History of Science Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum at the University of Oxford, the Museum of Islamic Art in Berlin, the Turquoise Mountain Foundation, and the World Scout Foundation.

The network offers an interactive platform that brings together academic, artistic, and community voices, providing opportunities for communication and interaction that transcend geographical, disciplinary, and linguistic boundaries. On this platform, digital innovation blends with human creativity, ensuring that resources and opportunities reach as many individuals as possible worldwide. The network continues to grow through partnerships with prominent cultural institutions to enhance the exchange of knowledge and understanding between cultures. In 2024, the platform attracted nearly 500,000 visitors.

At Alwaleed Philanthropies, we are committed to fostering cultural communication and understanding among people by supporting world-renowned museums to become true platforms for dialogue and creativity. At the Louvre Museum in Paris, the foundation established of the Islamic Arts Gallery, which houses the largest and most diverse collection of Islamic art in the world, enabling nearly 10 million annual visitors to deepen their understanding of Islamic art and culture.

At the Pergamon Museum in Berlin, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the foundation collaborates to enhance the appreciation and understanding of Islamic arts by engaging audiences, utilizing modern technology, and contributing to the renovation and expansion of the Museum of Islamic Art to improve visitor experiences and provide more space to showcase a wide range of artifacts. This project has benefited over 700,000 visitors, while the online platform "Art for All" has reached more than 5 million people worldwide, offering the opportunity to explore Islamic art from multiple perspectives.

The project also includes the "Multaka" program, which empowers refugees by training them as cultural guides, fostering cultural exchange, and supporting the integration of Arab newcomers into German society. This creates bridges of understanding and communication between different cultures.

These initiatives serve as a living model of how Islamic art can be presented in an innovative and inclusive way that promotes cultural dialogue, transforming museums into platforms for global understanding and communication, making them inspiring destinations for cultural convergence and mutual respect.

The Multaka-Oxford Program is a distinguished community and heritage project widely praised for its role in promoting cultural dialogue and understanding among diverse communities in Oxford. The initiative leverages the University of Oxford’s museums, such as the History of Science Museum and Pitt Rivers Museum, as meeting points that bring people together, including refugee and newly settled families, to foster tolerance and a deeper understanding of art, culture, and science. Approximately 4 million visitors benefit from this initiative annually, significantly expanding its impact.

The initiative focuses on strengthening community bonds and building bridges between cultures through a variety of artistic, cultural, and scientific activities. It also provides volunteer opportunities that allow individuals from diverse backgrounds to exchange experiences and develop skills, enriching their lives and opening new horizons. The initiative also aims to deepen the understanding of heritage and interpret historical artifacts, including Islamic art, on both local and international levels, turning museums into vibrant platforms for cultural and creative communication.

Our efforts form an integrated system to promote tolerance, where theoretical knowledge meets artistic inspiration and lived experiences. From supporting research and cultural and artistic exhibitions to empowering communities and connecting global networks, our work revolves around "building bridges between cultures," demonstrating what can be achieved when we choose unity and dialogue. We enhance channels of communication and understanding, and on the International Day for Tolerance, we renew our commitment to building a future based on respect and collaboration, where cultural differences become a source of peace, innovation, and hope for all.