Pope Francis arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, making him the first pontiff to visit the Arabian Peninsula, the birthplace of Islam.
Washington Post reports on top factoids about the UAE:
Islam is the official religion of the UAE
The constitution enshrines Islam as the official religion of the state, and there are laws against blasphemy, proselytizing by non-Muslims and converting from Islam. But the constitution also guarantees freedom of worship as long as it does not contradict public policy or morals.
The vast majority of the nation’s residents are noncitizens, and they practice various religions
People from all over the world have flocked to the Emirates. drawn by business and labor opportunities in the expansive cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As a result, of the approximately 9.1 million people who live in the UAE, only 11 percent are citizens.
There is an official Ministry of Tolerance
The Emirates established a Ministry of Tolerance to promote what it considered the true image of Islam, one that tolerates coexistence.
