Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the Great Arab Minds Awards
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the seventh edition of Arab Hope Makers, inviting individuals and organisations making a difference in their communities to share their stories.
The initiative recognises people who dedicate their time, resources and skills to humanitarian, charitable and community work, particularly efforts that improve lives, ease suffering and help communities access education, healthcare and a dignified life.
The winner will receive Dh1 million to support their work and help expand its impact. Individuals, volunteer groups and non-profit organisations can nominate themselves or be nominated by others through the official website, arabhopemakers.com.
“Nurturing hope is a triumph for life itself. The hope we cultivate today will yield prosperity, peace and safety in people’s lives tomorrow,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
He also encouraged people to nominate those whose work deserves recognition, describing Hope Makers as role models who have turned acts of kindness into a daily practice and a shared culture.
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), said the initiative reflects the UAE’s commitment to humanitarian and charitable work while highlighting people who serve their communities without expecting anything in return.
Since its launch in 2017, Arab Hope Makers has attracted hundreds of thousands of participants across its first six editions. The initiative aims to amplify the stories of people whose projects address social, economic, cultural and educational challenges through voluntary, non-profit efforts.
The 2025 edition recognised three finalists, with Dh1 million awarded to each. Morocco’s Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi received the top honour for her work with Operation Smile, a foundation that helps children born with cleft lips and palates and has facilitated more than 19,000 surgeries.
Kuwait’s Hend Alhajri was recognised for founding Fatima House, a haven for orphaned children in Tanzania, while Morocco’s Abderrahmane Rais was honoured for a humanitarian initiative supporting widows and women in need.
The latest edition seeks to uncover more such stories across the Arab world and beyond, celebrating people whose efforts show how community-led initiatives can create lasting change. ICA/Expat Media
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