The Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity brings together world leaders and peacemakers in Abu Dhabi under the slogan “A Promise for Future Generations”

Abu Dhabi hosted the fourth annual discussion session for the Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity for the year 2026 under the slogan “A Promise for Future Generations,” forming an exceptional global platform that addressed a sterile dialogue on the global challenges facing human brotherhood and the award’s effective role in addressing them.

Counselor Mohamed Abdel Salam, Secretary-General of the Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity, who chaired the session, confirmed that the award embodies, through this forum, the global standing, great trust and growing impact it enjoys, becoming the most important and influential in the field of promoting human brotherhood and coexistence globally, consolidating the values ​​of mutual respect and preserving human dignity without discrimination, and building bridges of cooperation between peoples. He explained that the session provides a space for responsible dialogue and the exchange of experiences between decision-makers and pioneers of humanitarian and intellectual work, which contributes to deepening mutual understanding and expanding circles of partnership to confront common challenges, stressing that the award will continue its mission of honoring inspiring humanitarian models, stimulating efforts of rapprochement and solidarity, and consolidating the culture of coexistence as a sustainable approach to creating a more humane and united future.

The session, which was moderated by Caroline Farage, Vice President of CNN, witnessed an opening speech by Maulin Ashimbaev, President of the Senate of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Head of the General Secretariat of the Conference of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, in which he praised the 2026 award recipients as inspiring models of peacemaking.

He praised the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia as a historic achievement, the efforts of Zarqa Yaftali in empowering Afghan girls and women, and the great humanitarian role of the Palestinian Cooperation Foundation in preserving heritage and supporting Palestinian society in light of the current challenges.

He pointed out that the world is witnessing profound transformations and a decline in the system of international values ​​and institutions, stressing that the future of humanity is not built only on economy and technology, but on trust, justice, and human brotherhood.

He also pointed out the importance of strengthening international frameworks for dialogue, noting the role of the Interfaith Leaders Conference in Kazakhstan and the intersection in the message between it and the Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity. He stressed that the world of the future must be based on human dignity, and that transforming difference into a source of strength is the way to create a better future.

In the context of the effective discussions, the participants focused on the ethical foundations of humanitarian work, as Dr. Nabil Al-Qaddoumi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Palestine Cooperation Foundation and honoree of the 2026 award, stressed that building future leadership is not based on conviction alone, but rather requires an integrated value system that accompanies it. He pointed out that possessing conviction alone is not enough to bring about gradual change, and he expressed his ambition to see the fruits of this change through the younger generation going through life with conviction and solid values.

For her part, Nellie Leon Correa from Chile, founder of the Resilient Women Foundation and honoree of the award for the year 2024, stressed the necessity of having a moral compass that guides efforts to transform dialogue into concrete action based on tolerance, kindness, and restorative justice, in an explicit call to put humanity at the heart of any future action.

The session witnessed the participation of more than forty influential international figures in the fields of peacebuilding, diplomacy, philanthropy, and innovation, including government officials, members of the Peace Fellowship Program from Yale University, and youth leaders representing 35 countries around the world.

The session was distinguished by the high-level presence of members of the award’s jury committees from various sessions, presented by Charles Michel, former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium, member of the 2026 Jury, Moussa Faki Mahamat, former Chairman of the African Union Commission and former Prime Minister of Chad, member of the 2026 Jury, Baroness Patricia Scotland, former Secretary-General of the Organization of Commonwealth States and advisor to the 2026 Jury, and Macky Sall, former President of Senegal and member of the 2026 Jury. 2025, Megawati Soekarnoputri, former President of the Republic of Indonesia and member of the 2024 jury, Irina Bykova, former Director-General of UNESCO and member of the 2024 jury, Dr. Epsi Campbell Barr, former Vice President of the Republic of Costa Rica and member of the 2023 jury, and Dr. Lea Besar, head of the Aladdin Project and member of the 2022 jury.

The session also brought together the current and previous honorees of the award, as the 2026 honorees were the Afghan advocate for women’s education, Zarqa Yaftali, and representatives of the Palestine Cooperation Foundation, Dr. Nabil Al-Qaddoumi and Dr. Tariq Amtira, in addition to the honorees in previous sessions, including Javier Garcia, CEO of the World Central Kitchen Organization, Aaron Ringer, Director of Strategic Relations at the organization honored for the year 2025, and the innovative young man, Heyman Bekele, who was honored for the year. 2025 honorees, representatives of the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah Foundations from Indonesia, honorees for the year 2024, the famous heart surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, the honorees for the year 2024, Sister Nellie Leon Correa, the honorees for the year 2024, and Kenyan peacemaker Shamsa Abu Bakar Fadil, the honorees for the year 2023.

The discussion session concluded its activities by celebrating the new success of three of the award honorees, after the introductory films produced by the award about them and shown on its platforms won prestigious awards at the Cannes Media and Television Festival 2025. The award film for Nelly Leon Korea was crowned with the gold award, while the award film about Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, and the award film about Heyman Bekele, both won the silver award.