UAE Honours Global Peacebuilders at 2026 Zayed Award Ceremony

Abu Dhabi, UAE:

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has honoured global leaders and humanitarian advocates at the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony held at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi. The award celebrates individuals and organisations advancing peace, dialogue, and human dignity worldwide.

This year, the prestigious recognition was jointly awarded to Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, and Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, for their historic peace agreement that ended decades of conflict between the two nations. Their efforts were acknowledged not only as political achievements but as a reflection of the people’s willingness to embrace peace.

The ceremony also recognised Taawon, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to supporting Palestinians through long-term humanitarian work, and Zarqa Yaftali, an Afghan education advocate committed to defending the rights of girls and women to education under challenging circumstances.

Sheikh Mohamed highlighted that the award underscores the enduring value of human fraternity in building bridges between societies and safeguarding human dignity. He reaffirmed the UAE’s dedication to fostering peace, coexistence, and dialogue, describing the Zayed Award as a global platform celebrating practical action rooted in compassion and cooperation.

Speaking at the event, Aliyev and Pashinyan emphasised that the recognition belonged to the people of both nations, whose support made the peace agreement possible. Representatives of Taawon and Zarqa Yaftali noted that the award highlights the importance of sustained humanitarian action and moral courage during crises.

The 2026 ceremony coincided with the UN-recognised International Day of Human Fraternity and also marked the opening of nominations for the 2027 edition of the award, which carries a $1 million prize.