Dubai: Dr Hamad bin Al Sheikh Ahmed Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace, presided over the 20th session of the Board to discuss vital issues on the agenda including establishment of a structural strategy and general framework for the Award.
The session was intended to reinforce the tremendous efforts made by the Award in promoting world peace, with Dubai as the symbolic home of harmony. The Board also paid homage to the vital role played by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in encouraging peaceful coexistence across the world.
The organizers of the Award aspire to position it as one of the world’s most prestigious awards in the peace and humanitarian field. This will be achieved by adopting the highest standards, and harnessing the cumulative expertise and experience of some of the most respected personalities to judge the candidates fairly on the stipulated criteria.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the Award’s website was officially launched. This will go a long way in enlightening those who wish to learn more about the Award’s goals, philosophy, organizers and more.
The over-riding aim of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace is to promote peace by fairly highlighting the teachings of Islam, as a doctrine that encourages tolerance, peace and moderation.
Attendees at the session discussed some vital issues regarding the Award, such as the nomination process, research required to develop the Award criteria, and whether it should be open exclusively to individuals or institutions. It was subsequently resolved that the Award will be open to any individuals or organizations that have made outstanding contributions to peace.
To ensure that the event lives up to world class standards, the attendees investigated the best practices currently prevailing in other international peace awards. It was agreed to take several prestigious institutions as a yardstick to refine this Award into an even better, more unique token of recognition.
Commenting on the meeting’s resolutions, Dr Hamad bin Al Sheikh Ahmed Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace, stated: “We constantly seek to recognize and acknowledge those who dedicate themselves to noble causes pertaining to world peace.” He added: “Our 20th session has renewed and re-energized our determination to gather the maximum number of constructive opinions in order to upgrade this into one of the world’s most prestigious peace awards.
My personal view, which is shared by many, is that the UAE in general and Dubai in particular have become a symbol of multicultural harmony, showing the world that global peace is not just a theoretical dream but an achievable reality.” The Award will be granted to the most deserving personalities or institutions every two years from 2014, in accordance with the terms and conditions set by its supervising committee.