Abu Dhabi hosted the fourth edition of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Roundtable 2026 under the theme “A Promise to Future Generations.” The event brought together past and present honourees, judging committee members, government officials, Yale Peace Fellows, and youth leaders from 35 countries.
The roundtable served as a platform to discuss global challenges to human fraternity and highlighted the award’s role in promoting peace, dialogue, and humanitarian action. More than 40 international figures from diplomacy, philanthropy, peacebuilding, and innovation attended the event.
Moderated by CNN Vice President Caroline Faraj and chaired by Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Zayed Award, the gathering included senior leaders such as Maulin Ashimbayev, Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan.
Prominent former judging members present included Charles Michel (former European Council President), Moussa Faki Mahamat (former African Union Chairperson), Macky Sall (former Senegal President), Patricia Scotland (former Commonwealth Secretary-General), Megawati Sukarnoputri (former Indonesian President), Irina Bokova (former UNESCO DG), Epsy Campbell Barr (former Costa Rica Vice-President), and Leah Pisar, President of the Aladdin Project.
Award honourees at the event included Zarqa Yaftali (Afghan girls’ education advocate), Dr Nabil Qaddumi and Dr Tareq Emtairah (Palestinian organisation Taawon), Javier Garcia and Aaron Renenger (World Central Kitchen), Heman Bekele (teen health innovator), Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah (Indonesia), Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub (cardiac surgeon), Sister Nelly Leon Correa (Chilean NGO founder), and Shamsa Abubakr Fadhil (Kenyan peace mediator).
Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam said the roundtable demonstrates the award’s growing global impact across cultures, faiths, and generations. He added it encourages dialogue, inspires humanitarian action, and promotes coexistence as a path toward a more humane and harmonious future.
Maulin Ashimbayev praised the honourees as inspiring peacemakers, highlighting Zarqa Yaftali’s work for Afghan girls, Taawon’s humanitarian efforts, and the historic peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. He stressed that a future grounded in human dignity and cooperation is essential.
Dr Nabil Qaddumi emphasized that conviction must be paired with ethical values to create lasting impact for future generations. Sister Nelly Leon Correa highlighted tolerance, kindness, and restorative justice as keys to translating dialogue into action.
The roundtable concluded with three honourees – Sister Nelly Leon Correa, Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub, and Heman Bekele – receiving trophies at the Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards for their biographical films produced for the award’s platforms, winning gold and silver awards at the 2025 edition.
