Sheikh Dhiyab bin Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan presided over and attended the third edition of the Humanitarian Leaders Awards at Atlantis The Royal hotel in Dubai, witnessing the honouring of a distinguished group of Emirati, Arab, and international figures and institutions that have left a significant mark in the fields of government, community, media, humanitarian, and artistic work. The event was attended by prominent official and community figures, entertainment stars, and representatives of local, Arab, and international media outlets.
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan presented the awards to the winners across four main categories, accompanied by Dr Bassem Al Halabi, founder of the Humanitarian Leaders Awards, and Dr Khalifa Hamad Al Ulaili, Director General of the Office of Sheikh Dhiyab bin Sultan bin Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, along with a number of prominent figures.
The honours included the category of Government Entities and Community Institutions, which encompassed Dubai Police's General Command in recognition of its pioneering role in serving the community and enhancing public security; the Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination for its efforts in empowering this group and improving their quality of life; the Dubai Press Club for its role in supporting and developing the media landscape; and the Harir Leadership Association for Community Development from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in recognition of its humanitarian and development initiatives.
The awards also included the Media Message category, which honoured veteran Egyptian journalist Imad El-Din Adib, Lebanese journalist Dr May Chidiac, Emirati journalist Saud Al Kaabi, and Lebanese journalist Malik Maktabi, in recognition of their professional careers and media messages that have contributed to raising awareness and shedding light on community and humanitarian issues.
The Makers of Humanitarian Giving category crowned Syrian Dr Ihsan Ezz Al-Din, known as the 'Doctor of the Poor', Turkish chef Burak, Emirati volunteering pioneer Laila Al Mazrouei, and Lebanese humanitarian activist Gilbert Sab'ali, in recognition of their initiatives and ongoing efforts in serving patients, those in need, and the most vulnerable segments of society.
In the Artistic Message category, honours went to Syrian artist Salloum Haddad, Emirati artist Dr Habib Ghuloom, Syrian artist Qais Al Sheikh Najib, and Lebanese artist Rita Harb, in recognition of their artistic careers and the meaningful social messages conveyed through their works.
The evening marked an exceptional occasion with the honouring of two global Latin drama stars, actor Osvaldo Rios and actress Coraima Torres, the lead duo of the renowned series Cassandra, during their first-ever visit to the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East region. The ceremony brought the two together for the first time in more than 20 years, rekindling memories for Arab audiences of one of the most widely watched television productions of the 1990s.