DUBAI, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Sports and its positive impact on development and peace are important to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), said Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Minister for Tolerance on Wednesday.

He made the statement on the occasion of the annual International Day of Sports for Development and Peace on April 6.

Nahyan went on saying that participating in sports activities is a national priority for the UAE, and that peace and tolerance could be achieved through the hosting of "various local, regional and international sports events."

The UAE has been hosting international sports events for many years such as the Dubai Tennis Championships (since 1993), the cycling challenge Dubai Tour and FIFA Club World Cup 2017.

The UAE minister called sports "a way of life and a leading form of education, health and cultural communications."