The Heartbeat of Humanity film series by the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has won the Documentary category at the 30th Annual Webby Awards, one of the world’s most prestigious honours recognising excellence on the internet.
The Webby Awards, often described by The New York Times as the “Internet’s highest honour,” celebrate outstanding work across websites, apps, and social media platforms.
The Heartbeat of Humanity series achieved a double victory, receiving both the Webby Award selected by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and the Webby People’s Voice Award, which is decided by public voting. This year, over 4 million votes were cast worldwide.
The project stood out among more than 13,000 submissions and was shortlisted as one of five finalists in the Documentary category. Previous winners in this category include leading global names such as National Geographic, Netflix, The Washington Post, and Business Insider.
His Excellency Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the award, said the recognition highlights the growing importance of storytelling in spreading humanitarian values globally. He noted that the film series reflects the award’s mission to promote unity, coexistence, and human fraternity across cultures.
The films were produced by Abu Dhabi-based creative group People. They focus on the inspiring work of the award’s 2025 and 2026 honourees.
Featured individuals and organisations include Mia Amor Mottley, World Central Kitchen, young innovator Heman Bekele, the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement, Taawon, and Afghan education advocate Zarqa Yaftali.
Tim Elliott, CEO of People, said the recognition reflects both industry appreciation and a strong connection with global audiences. He added that the team worked with dedication to present these stories with authenticity and respect.
The award ceremony will take place in New York City on 11 May 2026. Established in 1996, the Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, which includes over 3,000 experts and leaders from across the digital industry.
