Board announces World Peace Award vision

Dubai: The Board of Trustees of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace outlined the vision and objectives of the award in a press conference on Thursday.

The announcement followed the second Dubai International Peace Convention, which was held last month.

Dr Hamad Bin Al Shaikh Ahmad Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Board of the Award, said it will be presented every two years starting from 2014, in conjunction with the next Dubai International Peace Convention. "The award strives to recognise and acknowledge those who dedicate themselves to noble causes pertaining to world peace. The cumulative result will be the enhancement of international relations, and the advancement of civil dialogue in which any disagreements are resolved in mutually respectful manner," he said.

Inspiring values

Although the award categories and amount have not been specified yet, the board clarified that the award will avoid prior nominations, which might be influenced by private or public considerations, Al Shaibani said, adding that it can be awarded to any individual or organisation regardless of religion and nationality.

This highlights its credibility and transparency, bringing it on par with the highest international accolades.

‘Serving world peace'

"The underlying desire behind this award is to spread the inspiring values of Islam throughout the world," Al Shaibani said.

Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, Deputy Chairman of the Award's Board, said the board was in the process of finalising the conditions of the award, based on the vision of "Leadership in serving world peace", the message of spreading and encouraging world peace through innovative initiatives and the values of equality, integrity, responsibility, transparency and tolerance.

Mohammad Suhail Al Muhairi, board member and head of the scientific committee, said the Dubai Peace conference was a huge success with a turnout that exceeded 150,000 people during the three days of the conference, and 35 people converted to Islam as a result of attending the seminars and learning about the religion.