How the Zayed Award amplifies the work of its honorees to further their humanitarian missions

Special How the Zayed Award amplifies the work of its honorees to further their humanitarian missions
The honorees for 2025. (Supplied)
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Updated 04 February 2025
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How the Zayed Award amplifies the work of its honorees to further their humanitarian missions

How the Zayed Award amplifies the work of its honorees to further their humanitarian missions
  • This year’s award recognizes Barbados PM Mia Mottley, World Central Kitchen, and young innovator Heman Bekele
  • By receiving the award in 2024, surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub has been able to expand his life-saving care to underserved communities

DUBAI: In a world grappling with crises ranging from conflict and humanitarian emergencies to economic vulnerability and climate change, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity stands as a beacon of hope.

Since its establishment in 2019, the award, which includes a $1 million prize, has recognized individuals and organizations whose work embodies the universal values of peace, solidarity, and human dignity.




The trophies for the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. (Supplied)

This year, the 2025 honorees — Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, humanitarian relief organization World Central Kitchen, and 15-year-old health innovator Heman Bekele — have each demonstrated a commitment to making the world a better place.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, named in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late founder of the UAE, has become a symbol of recognizing and amplifying transformative humanitarian efforts worldwide.

The award is one of the outcomes of the dialogue between the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb and Pope Francis, which led to the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi in 2019.




With Abu Dhabi's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (L) as witness, Pope Francis (C) and Egypt's Al Azhar Grand Imam Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb sign documents during the Human Fraternity Meeting at the Founders Memorial in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2019. (AFP)

 




Egyptian-British cardiothoracic surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub meeting with Pope Francis during last year's edition of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. (Supplied)




Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb congratulates Sir Magdi Yacoub during last year's awarding ceremonies. (Supplied) 

This year’s three recipients will be honored at a ceremony at the Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 4.

The selection process for the annual award is rigorous, with an independent jury reviewing hundreds of nominations from individuals and organizations dedicated to advancing human fraternity.

“It is the judging committee’s honor to spotlight three outstanding honorees who are addressing some of today’s most urgent challenges — climate resilience, humanitarian relief, and youth-driven innovation,” Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, secretary-general of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, said in a statement.

2025 HONOREES

• Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley has long advocated for climate resilience, global financial reform, and renewable energy.

• World Central Kitchen has provided more than 300 million meals in crisis zones, including 70 million meals in Gaza since 2023.

• Heman Bekele developed an affordable soap to treat early-stage skin cancer, demonstrating the power of youth-led solutions in healthcare. 

“This year’s recipients demonstrate that transformative work can be undertaken at any age, in any place in the world, and in any field.”

Mottley has gained international recognition for her relentless advocacy in addressing climate change and her leadership in pushing for financial reform to support vulnerable nations.

Her efforts through the Bridgetown Initiative — a bold call for restructuring global financial systems — aim to ensure that developing nations have equitable access to climate resilience funding.

“She has committed to achieving 100 percent renewable energy for Barbados by 2030, investing in solar, wind, and other clean energy sources,” the award committee said in a statement.




Through her persistent advocacy, Barbados PM Mia Amor Mottley (shown on screen) has helped enable nations burdened by debt to reallocate funds toward climate adaptation and sustainability projects. (Supplied)

By pioneering debt-for-climate swaps, Mottley has enabled nations burdened by debt to reallocate funds toward climate adaptation and sustainability projects.

The award committee said Mottley’s leadership is a testament to how governance, when rooted in sustainability and equity, can create lasting change, and that her selection reinforces the global urgency of addressing climate change as an issue of human fraternity and justice.

Also among this year’s honorees is World Central Kitchen. Founded by Jose Andres in 2010, the charity has redefined humanitarian relief by providing immediate, fresh, and locally-sourced meals to people affected by disasters and crises.




World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres attends an interfaith memorial service for the seven WCK workers killed in Gaza, at the Washington National Cathedral, in Washington, DC, on April 25, 2024. (AFP)

With more than 300 million meals served in over 30 countries, WCK’s work has proven essential in responding to humanitarian emergencies.

A particularly poignant example of the charity’s impact came in 2023 and 2024 when WCK delivered more than 70 million meals to Palestinians in Gaza, collaborating with local chefs and suppliers to ensure swift and effective relief under challenging circumstances.




Volunteers of the World Central Kitchen cook meals to be distributed to needy Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 3, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement. (AFP)

“Through collaborations — including with the UAE — and its innovative ‘first-on-the-ground’ approach, WCK has demonstrated its capabilities in providing meals to the people who need them most,” the award committee said.

The organization’s commitment to dignity and community resilience has earned it admiration worldwide. By working alongside local communities, WCK ensures that its relief efforts do not just provide temporary aid but strengthen long-term food security.

In a first for the Zayed Award, a youth category was introduced this year to honor the contributions of the next generation.

At just 15 years of age, Ethiopian-American innovator Heman Bekele has already made a significant contribution to global healthcare.




Hemen Bekele competing in the 3M Young Scientist Challenge in 2023. (Instagram)

In 2024, at the age of 14, he developed a cost-effective soap to help prevent and treat early-stage skin cancer, a breakthrough that earned him TIME’s “Kid of the Year” and various accolades in science competitions.

Now working alongside researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, Bekele aims to scale up his innovation to reach communities most in need.

“His ambition to save lives and his vision of accessible and affordable healthcare” were central to his selection as the first youth honoree of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, the award committee said.

Bekele’s work exemplifies the award’s commitment to recognizing contributions at any age. Indeed, his inclusion sends a strong message that the next generation is not just the future of humanitarian innovation but an active and powerful force in the present.

Since its inception, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has sought to amplify the voices and initiatives of individuals and organizations that inspire hope and action.

“Beyond recognizing outstanding contributions to human solidarity and fraternity, the award actively fosters global dialogue through dedicated platforms,” Abdelsalam, the award’s secretary general, told Arab News.

One such initiative is the Human Fraternity Majlis, which brings together global leaders, Nobel laureates, and youth representatives to explore solutions to pressing global challenges.




Last year’s winner Sir Magdi Yacoub mee other winners nof the Fraterniuty Awadrd (Supplied)

Another is the annual Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Roundtable, which provides a space for honorees and judges to collaborate on advancing the principles of human fraternity worldwide.

“In just five years, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has grown into a worldwide movement that encourages collaboration, fraternity, and communication between individuals from different cultures, religions, and backgrounds,” said Abdelsalam.

“Millions of people worldwide have benefited from the projects spearheaded by past honorees.”

AWARD IMPACT

* Since receiving the award in 2024, Egyptian-British cardiothoracic surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub has been able to expand his life-saving care to underserved communities.

The award does not just celebrate achievements — it actively supports and expands their reach. A striking example of this is last year’s honoree, renowned cardiac surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub.

His groundbreaking work in heart surgery and his initiatives to provide life-saving care to underserved communities were amplified through the award’s recognition.

With financial backing from the Zayed Award, Yacoub expanded his work to establish the Rwanda Heart Center in Kigali — a project modeled after his successful Aswan Heart Centre in Egypt.

“The prize means we can do more research, speed up the building of the Rwanda Heart Centre, and continue making an impact,” Yacoub said in 2024.




Sir Magdi Yacoub visiting a patient at the Rwanda Heart Centre. (Courtesy of My Heart Centre Rwanda)

Such outcomes highlight the real-world impact of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. It is not merely an honor — it is an investment in solutions that drive tangible change.

In recognizing Mottley, WCK, and Bekele, the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity reaffirms the importance of leadership, innovation, and service to humanity.

Whether through shaping climate policy, feeding those in crisis, or developing life-saving healthcare solutions, these honorees exemplify what it means to act for the greater good.

As the 2025 ceremony approaches, the award serves as a reminder that impactful change can come from governments, non-profits, or even a determined teenager with a vision for a better world.

More than ever, these efforts need to be celebrated, supported, and replicated. Or, as Abdelsalam put it: “Now more than ever, these contributions serve as a beacon of hope in a world facing increasing division.”
 

 


Jordanian food companies have ‘remarkable opportunity’ at London’s IFE 2025 exhibition

Jordanian food companies have ‘remarkable opportunity’ at London’s IFE 2025 exhibition
Updated 7 sec ago
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Jordanian food companies have ‘remarkable opportunity’ at London’s IFE 2025 exhibition

Jordanian food companies have ‘remarkable opportunity’ at London’s IFE 2025 exhibition
  • The three-day exhibition will feature 1,500 exhibitors from around the world and is expected to attract about 30,000 global buyers and distributors

LONDON: Jordanian companies in the food sector will have a “remarkable opportunity” when they take part for the first time in the International Food and Drink Event, which begins on Monday at the ExCeL International Exhibition Centre in London, an official said Saturday.

The three-day exhibition will feature 1,500 exhibitors from around the world and is expected to attract about 30,000 global buyers and distributors from more than 105 countries.

Ahmed Khudari, chairman of the Jordan Exporters Association, highlighted the significance of the kingdom’s debut at the show, calling it a key step in promoting Jordanian food exports and expanding their presence in international markets.

“This first participation comes within the association’s strategy to promote Jordanian exports of food products and expand their presence in global markets,” he said.

Khudari added that IFE 2025 offered a major opportunity for Jordanian companies to showcase their products and increase their global visibility, particularly in the UK.

“The IFE 2025 is a remarkable opportunity for Jordanian companies to showcase the quality of their products to the world and contribute to promoting Jordanian exports globally, particularly in Britain, which is witnessing a growing demand for international foods, especially from Arab countries,” he said.

The exhibition will serve as a platform for Jordanian businesses to display a variety of products, including desserts, baked goods, spices, nuts and other food items.

Khudari highlighted the advantages of the British market — particularly the presence of a large Arab community — which he described as a “great opportunity for Jordanian companies to expand their businesses and strengthen their presence in this vital destination,” taking advantage of the free trade agreement signed between Jordan and the United Kingdom in 2021.

The show also offers networking opportunities, he said, highlighting the broader economic impact of increasing Jordanian exports, particularly in addressing economic challenges.

“Jordanian exports represent a solution to multiple economic challenges, as creating new markets for local products boosts production, supports industrial expansion and attracts new investments,” he said.

Khudari added that such efforts would also generate job opportunities for Jordanians, strengthen foreign currency reserves and improve the trade balance.

According to official data, Jordan-UK trade exchange amounted to approximately 303 million Jordanian dinars ($427.3 million) last year, with 62 million Jordanian dinars attributed to exports from the country.


Trump orders strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen and issues new warning to Iran

Trump orders strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen and issues new warning to Iran
Updated 6 min 20 sec ago
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Trump orders strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen and issues new warning to Iran

Trump orders strikes on Houthi militants in Yemen and issues new warning to Iran
  • “Our brave war fighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases,” Trump said
  • Added that “no terrorist force” will stop US commercial and naval vessels freely sailing “waterways of the world”

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until Iranian-backed Houthi militants cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor.
“Our brave war fighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”
He also warned Iran to stop supporting the militant group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy.
The Houthis reported a series of explosions in their territory Saturday evening. Images circulating online show plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The extent of the damage was not yet clear.
The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing in waters off Yemen in response to Israel’s blockade on Gaza. There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.
The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.
“These relentless assaults have cost the US and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.


Jordan’s trade surplus with US reached $1.23bn in 2024

Jordan’s trade surplus with US reached $1.23bn in 2024
Updated 15 March 2025
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Jordan’s trade surplus with US reached $1.23bn in 2024

Jordan’s trade surplus with US reached $1.23bn in 2024
  • Healthy Jordan-US trade relations highlighted by foreign trade data released by Department of Statistics

AMMAN: Jordan recorded a trade surplus of 877 million dinars ($1.23 billion) with the US in 2024, according to foreign trade data released by the Department of Statistics on Saturday.

The data, reported by the Jordan News Agency (Petra), highlighted significant growth in national exports to the US, which reached JD2.208 billion last year, up from JD1.958 billion in 2023 — an increase of 12.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the kingdom’s imports from the US market also saw a rise, reaching JD1.331 billion in 2024, compared to JD1.161 billion the previous year, marking an increase of 14.6 percent.

As a result, the total volume of trade between the two countries grew to JD3.539 billion, up from JD3.119 billion in 2023. National exports to the US accounted for 25.7 percent of Jordan’s total exports last year.

Speaking to Petra, Samer Judeh, chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in Jordan, attributed this growth to the success of Jordanian products in penetrating the US market, benefiting from the Jordan-US Free Trade Agreement, which was fully implemented in 2010.

He noted that the agreement has contributed to an 800 percent increase in bilateral trade since its inception.

Judeh emphasized that enhancing exports and supporting national industries remain key priorities under Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision. He highlighted the private sector’s role in shaping policies and coordinating efforts to further strengthen trade ties with the American market.

To sustain this momentum, Judeh underscored the need to enhance the added value of Jordanian products, improve quality standards, diversify exports, and promote joint investments between Jordan and the US.

He also stressed the importance of institutional cooperation in training, marketing, and supply chain development to ensure long-term growth and boost the competitiveness of Jordanian exports in the US market.

And he pointed to the potential of high-value technical services driven by Jordan’s skilled workforce, which could play a crucial role in further expanding trade relations between the two nations.


UXO blast in Syria city kills four: state media

UXO blast in Syria city kills four: state media
Updated 15 March 2025
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UXO blast in Syria city kills four: state media

UXO blast in Syria city kills four: state media
  • “Four civilians were killed and nine injured in an explosion in a hardware store inside a four-story building,” SANA said
  • The blast was detonated when the scrap dealer mishandled an unexploded munition in an attempt to recover the metal

DAMASCUS: A blast in the Syrian coastal city of Latakia killed at least four people on Saturday, state media reported, adding that it was triggered by a scrap dealer mishandling unexploded ordnance.
“Four civilians were killed and nine injured in an explosion in a hardware store inside a four-story building” in the city’s Al-Rimal neighborhood, state news agency SANA said, adding that four of the injured were children.
The news agency said the blast was detonated when the scrap dealer mishandled an unexploded munition in an attempt to recover the metal.
Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also described the blast as an “accident” resulting from a resident’s attempt to dismantle unexploded ordnance.
A resident of the city, Ward Jammoul, 32, told AFP that she heard a “loud blast,” adding that she “headed to the site and found a completely destroyed building.”
She said civil defense personnel and ambulances were present at the site, alongside “a large number of people who had gathered to look for those trapped under the rubble.”
An image carried by SANA showed a large plume of smoke rising over a populated neighborhood.
A report by non-governmental organization Humanity and Inclusion had warned last month of the dangers posed by unexploded munitions left over from the civil war that erupted in 2011.
It said experts estimated that between 100,000 and 300,000 of the roughly one million munitions used during the war had never detonated.


Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented

Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented
Updated 15 March 2025
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Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented

Hamas says it will only release American-Israeli hostage if truce agreement is implemented
  • A senior Hamas official said long-delayed talks over the ceasefire’s second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days
  • Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages

CAIRO: Hamas said Saturday it will only release an American-Israeli and the bodies of four other hostages if Israel implements their ceasefire agreement, calling it an “exceptional deal” aimed at getting the truce back on track.
A senior Hamas official said long-delayed talks over the ceasefire’s second phase would need to begin the day of the release and last no longer than 50 days. Israel would also need to stop barring the entry of humanitarian aid and withdraw from a strategic corridor along Gaza’s border with Egypt.
Hamas would also demand the release of more Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the closed-door talks.
Edan Alexander, 21, who grew up in Tenafly, New Jersey, was abducted from his military base during Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that ignited the war, and is the last living American citizen held in Gaza. Hamas still has a total of 59 hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be dead.
Two Israeli airstrikes in the northern town of Beit Lahiya near the border killed at least nine people, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Fares Awad, a local health official, identified one of the dead as local reporter Mahmoud Islim, who was operating a drone.
The Israeli military said it struck two people operating a drone that it said posed a threat to soldiers in the area. It said it launched another strike at a group of people who came to collect the drone equipment. The army identified all of those targeted as suspected militants, without providing evidence.
There has been no major fighting since the ceasefire took hold on Jan. 19, but Israeli strikes have killed dozens of Palestinians who the military said had entered unauthorized areas, engaged in militant activities or otherwise violated the truce.
Israel has cast doubt on Hamas’ offer
There was no immediate comment on Hamas’ offer from Israel, where government offices were closed for the weekly Sabbath. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Friday accused Hamas of “psychological warfare” after the initial offer, before the militant group spelled out the conditions.
The United States said it presented on Wednesday a proposal to extend the ceasefire a few more weeks as the sides negotiate a permanent truce. It said Hamas was claiming flexibility in public while privately making “entirely impractical” demands.
Negotiations continued in Egypt after senior Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya arrived in Cairo on Friday. Egypt and Qatar served as key mediators with Hamas in reaching the ceasefire and have continued to host talks aimed at getting it back on track.
Under the ceasefire agreement reached in January, Israel and Hamas were to begin negotiations over a second phase — in which Hamas would release all the remaining hostages in exchange for a lasting truce — in early February, but so far only preparatory talks have been held.
After the first phase ended at the beginning of this month, Israel said it had agreed to a new US proposal in which Hamas would release half the remaining hostages in return for a vague commitment to negotiate a lasting ceasefire. Hamas rejected that offer, accusing Israel of backtracking on the signed agreement and trying to sabotage the truce.
Palestinian official says no fuel left for water wells
Israel has barred the delivery of food, fuel and other supplies to Gaza’s roughly 2 million Palestinians, and cut electricity to the territory, to pressure Hamas to accept the new proposal.
The city of Rafah, on the Gaza-Egypt border, said it could no longer provide fuel needed to pump water from dozens of wells across the city.
Ahmed Al-Sufi, head of the municipality, said fuel shortages caused by the Israeli siege have forced it to “suspend essential services, threatening the lives of thousands and exacerbating the health and environmental crisis.”
The first phase of the truce saw the release of 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Israeli forces pulled back to a buffer zone along Gaza’s border and allowed a surge of humanitarian aid.
An Israeli official said last month that Israel will not withdraw from the so-called Philadelphi corridor, along the Gaza-Egypt border, as called for in the ceasefire agreement. Israel has cited the need to combat weapons smuggling.