In two separate events in Manama and Abu Dhabi, in November 2021, Ambassadors Jérôme Cauchard, and Xavier Chatel brought together senior government officials, diplomats, academics, business leaders and intellectuals to meet with members of Project Aladdin’s delegation. 

During the reception held in honor of the delegation by French Ambassador Jérôme Cauchard at his official residence, senior officials and civil society leaders were present, including Sheikha Haya Rashed Al Khalifa, a former President of the UN General Assembly who represented the King of Bahrain at the launch of Project Aladdin in 2009; Sheikha Rana bint Isa Al Khalifa, Secretary-General of the Higher Education Board of Bahrain; Nancy Dinah Elly Khedouri, member of the Shoura Council; Ambassador Houda Noonoo, a member of the Bahraini Jewish community and former Ambassador to Washington; Dr. Susan Saxton, President of the American University of Bahrain, and the Ambassadors and Chiefs of Mission of Germany, Italy, Israel, India, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the United States to Bahrain. 

In his welcoming remarks, Ambassador Cauchard noted that Project Aladdin has been supported by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs since its inception in 2009, as it promotes intercultural rapprochement; combats racism, antisemitism, and intolerance and raises awareness about the history of the Holocaust. 

Xavier Chatel, French Ambassador to the UAE, told a gathering of senior officials, intellectuals, academics, and civil society representatives at his official residence that Project Aladdin was waging a necessary campaign against intolerance, extremism and obscurantism. He noted that the United Arab Emirates is a leader in supporting initiatives that foster intercultural rapprochement or tolerance and anticipated that Project Aladdin would find many willing and eager partners in the UAE.