H.H. Sheikh Abdullah dedicates award to COVID-19 volunteers

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Chairman of the Supreme National Committee for Volunteerism during Crises, has thanked volunteers for helping to win an accolade.

The Committee has won the Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences.

His Highness described volunteering as a "sublime humanitarian value," applying to Emiratis and residents alike.

Sheikh Abdullah said that everyone taking part stands out for their work during the COVID-19 pandemic as "a major component of the country's social fabric."

His Highness dedicated the honour to all of the volunteers and said, "This international award is a significant achievement adding one more feather to the UAE's cap and crowns the efforts of every volunteer who's sincerely performed, and still are, his and her tasks in confronting the repercussions of the COVID-19."

While forming the committee a few months ago, he continued, "we were confident that cohesion and integration between all segments of society is our path toward the success we have already achieved. Our volunteers, from Emiratis and residents, have embodied an epic of human giving. We sincerely salute every and each one of them and dedicate to them this prestigious award in acknowledgement of their colossal efforts, and to further motivate them to continue their march of giving for the sake of humanity at large."

Sheikh Abdullah underlined that "The integrated and sustainable drive of volunteering in the UAE is a culmination of the visionary vision of late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who turned giving and volunteering into a quintessential Emirati value among UAE citizens and residents alike. Our wise leadership has ensured volunteering is a way of life in our society and highly appreciates giving in times of distress."

He cited the statements of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, where he said "if nations boast about their people and residents, we in the UAE take pride in our citizens and residents living on our soil. We are honoured to serve them and they are our responsibility."

And the Minister noted that the COVID-19 crisis has made crystal clear the significant role played by volunteering now and in the future. "This fact makes it inevitable for us to work for consolidating volunteering across the nation and inculcate the concept of corporate social responsibility, being one of the main pillars of social cohesion and integration in the country."