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Abu Dhabi hospital now has a multi-faith prayer facility

Abu Dhabi - The dedicated space for prayer with holy books and scriptures of different religions can be used by people of all faiths.

A multi-faith prayer room has been opened up at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi to promote respect for religious and cultural diversity.
The dedicated space for prayer with holy books and scriptures of different religions can be used by people of all faiths. It is a community initiative implemented by the Department of Community Development (DCD) in Abu Dhabi.
Mubadala Healthcare's first multi-faith prayer room seeks to promote cultural and religious diversity and shows that Abu Dhabi is a hub of coexistence for diverse communities. The opening of the prayer room on Thursday has also strengthened the DCD's efforts to offer multiple places of worship in Abu Dhabi.
Cleveland Clinic receives 2,600 patients daily and out of these, 15 to 20 patients come from outside the UAE. The hospital said it hopes to receive more than 3,000 international patients this year by the end of December.
Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, chairman of the DCD, said: "Since its establishment, our beloved nation has had a proud history of imbuing the values of tolerance and coexistence in the UAE and the wider region.
"Abu Dhabi has a reputation as a global centre of peace, tolerance and human rights, where individuals enjoy all their rights to live and work with dignity. We have a long history of spreading the values of coexistence and harmony among all our people."
He added: "The multi-faith prayer room at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi is an excellent example of a community coming together. The facility has been inaugurated in accordance with the UAE laws and regulations, while meeting international standards. We have carried out extensive studies to ensure that it meets these standards, while keeping in line with customs and traditions of different religions.
"At Cleveand Clinic, we receive patients of different cultures and religions and having a common place at the hospital where patients of different faiths can pray at is very important," Dr Rakesh Suri, CEO of Cleveand Cinic Abu Dhabi, told Khaleej Times.
Dr Fahed Al Marzooqi, chief administrative officer, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said: "Our patients, their families and the hospital's caregivers of different communities will collectively benefit from a calm, safe space of tolerance to spend quiet moments of reflection within the hospital.
"Every day, we strive to put our patients first and care for each other, and the multi-faith prayer room is a new destination that helps us to achieve those goals of care and compassion for others."
He added that the prayer room initiative emphasises the growing awareness with regards to the need to promote tolerance and coexistence within all aspects of society, allowing for the creation of a unified community based on the idea of tolerance and respect.
In September this year, the DCD started granting licences for the establishment of multi-faith prayer rooms, a step considered as another achievement to be added to the department's list of accomplishments since its establishment.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com