The winners of the Zayed Human Fraternity Award, organized by the United Arab Emirates, have been determined.
Among the 2026 laureates are the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia.
The organization cited the historic peace agreement reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia at the Washington meeting on August 8 as the reason.
According to the organization, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude for the award, noting the high appreciation for efforts to establish peace in the South Caucasus and the world. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the award bearing the name of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as well as the support of Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed El-Tayeb, made this recognition a "double honor.".
It should be recalled that the 2026 laureates were selected by an independent global jury. The committee included former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission and former Prime Minister of Chad Moussa Faki Mahamat, UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell, Head of the Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva, Prefect of the Dicastery for Culture and Education Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, and Secretary-General of the Zayed Award, Judge Mohammed Abdelsalam.
Judge Mohammed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Jury Committee, stated that the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan is a significant milestone in the development of global peace, opening a new chapter after decades of tension in the Caucasus and laying a solid foundation for a more secure future for both peoples.
The 2026 awards ceremony will be held on February 4, 2026, coinciding with the International Day of Human Fraternity. The ceremony, to be organized in Abu Dhabi, will be broadcast live via YouTube.
It should be noted that the Zayed Human Fraternity Award has honored 19 laureates from 19 countries since 2019. Among them are Pope Francis (honorary), Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb (honorary), UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania, Kenyan peacebuilder Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil, Egyptian heart surgeon Professor Magdi Yacoub, Chilean NGO founder Nelly León Correa, and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley.