Hello and welcome to Emirati, a monthly newsletter from The National.
I was fortunate enough to have grown up during the time of the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
There are so many initiatives in place today that I believe would have made him proud – initiatives that celebrate who he was as a leader, a father, and above all, a human being.
His compassion extended to all of humanity, and his focus was not limited to Emiratis alone but encompassed everyone who lived in the country, because he felt it was his responsibility to care for them.
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity honours people who embody the values of Sheikh Zayed.
This annual, independent award recognises people and organisations from around the globe who selflessly work to bridge divisions and help others.
It is only fitting that such an award bears the name of Sheikh Zayed.
Thank you for reading,
Shireena Al Nowais
UAE’s $1 million humanitarian award a ‘beacon of light’ in world divided by conflict
An annual humanitarian award established following Pope Francis's historic visit to the UAE has been described as a “ray of light” in a world dimmed by crises and conflict as it prepares to name its latest winners.
The $1 million Zayed Award for Human Fraternity – inspired by the philanthropic vision of UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan – celebrates organisations and people whose work seeks to bring about meaningful change and improve lives around the world.
The award was launched on February 4, 2019, to provide a legacy to the milestone meeting in Abu Dhabi between Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayeb.
The sixth annual awards ceremony will be held on February 4, to coincide with the International Day of Human Fraternity.
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The prize recognises the efforts of high-profile figures and grass roots campaigners alike, with previous winners including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan, as well as charitable foundations offering a helping hand to the needy from Haiti to Kenya and beyond.
In total, 13 recipients – nine people and four organisations – have been honoured in five years, with nominees drawn from 66 countries.
“It is a platform – a bridge that connects all those who cherish goodness, peace, coexistence and fraternity,” said Judge Mohamed Abdel Salam, secretary general of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, who oversees the committee of judges.
“What makes it even more remarkable is that it doesn’t only touch communities or individuals with initiatives – it reaches everyone, at every level: leaders, workers, philanthropists, and ordinary people alike. It is an award that truly touches all aspects of life, making it exceptional in every sense.”
Did you know?
Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Ahmed Al Tayeb, were the first recipients of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in 2019.
Pope Francis: Zayed Award crucial to address global humanitarian challenges
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Pope Francis emphasised the importance of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity to address global humanitarian challenges, such as world hunger.
He made the comments last month during a meeting with the 2025 judging committee at the Vatican. Pope Francis discussed strategies to advance peace and to address human fraternity issues, state news agency Wam reported on Tuesday.
As an honorary recipient of the award in 2019, Pope Francis meets annually with the award's judging committee. “There are millions of famished children around the world – children have to go through waste to find food,” he said. The judging committee includes leaders from diverse sectors and places: Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America are represented.
Cardinal Peter Turkson said the members of the committee were invited to be “apostles of hope” by Pope Francis. The award, he added, provides “a flicker of hope that shows us that peace is on the horizon and that humanity will not be overcome by the shadows of war and injustice”.
Egypt's Magdi Yacoub among Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2024 winners
Egyptian surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub was among the winners of the 2024 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
The founder of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation in Egypt and the Chain of Hope charitable organisation in the UK, Sir Magdi is well known for his pioneering surgical techniques that have helped save thousands of lives, including those of children.
Sir Magdi, 89, a retired professor of cardiothoracic surgery, has opened cardiac centres in Ethiopia and Mozambique, with a centre in Rwanda's capital Kigali under construction.
He has also received numerous honours including a British knighthood and the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the Grand Order of the Nile from Egypt.