UAE President honours 10 individuals with Abu Dhabi Awards

UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has honoured 10 individuals with the Abu Dhabi Awards in recognition of their acts of generosity and kindness that creates positive change in the society.

During the ceremony at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed applauded the winners for their selfless contributions, adding that the awards reflect the nation’s commitment to acknowledging those who uphold integrity, unity and social responsibility.

Salem Hamad and Fatima Majed Al Mansoori were recognised for becoming the first Emirati couple to champion organ donation. Despite losing their five-year-old daughter, they decided to donate her organs to save three lives.   

Businessman Obaid Kenish Al Hameli, teacher Moza Al Hafiti and national figures Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi and Late Mohamed Ibrahim Obaidallah were among the other recipients of the 12th edition of the awards.

Since its launch, the awards have honoured 110 individuals from 18 nationalities for their acts of generosity that strengthens unity and social harmony. 

THE WINNERS

Obaid Kenish Al Hameli: Despite losing his parents at a young age, Al Hameli has made significant contributions to community development and charitable work alongside his business dreams. After beginning his journey as a field guide for oil exploration teams, he launched the Obaid Bin Kenish Al Hameli Award for Academic Excellence, in Al Dhafra to educate the younger generation.

Moza Mohamed Al Hafiti: With more than two decades of a teaching career at the Zayed Educational Complex in Dibba Al-Fujairah, she is recognised for her innovative teaching tools like the Interactive Digital Prayer Rug and a Digital Library.

Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi: An accomplished national figure, Al Nuaimi is a celebrated national figure who has held several positions of influence in the nation's developmental journey while dedicating time for humanitarian and charitable initiatives. He established the Rashid Centre for Diabetes and Research in 2010 and the Rashid bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi Charitable Foundation in 2012. His literary contributions have also been celebrated, most notably Shahenda, called the first "modern Emirati novel".

Late Mohamed Ibrahim Obaidallah: A founding member of Beit Al Khair Society, he championed medical, relief and development programmes that advanced healthcare in the UAE. He founded the Obaidallah Geriatric Hospital in Ras Al Khaimah in 2009 and played a key role in developing specialised facilities in Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai. He also set up scholarships and financial aid for students in need. He passed away in 2025.

Salem Hamad and Fatima Majed Al Mansoori: After losing their five-year-old daughter Zahia, the couple decided to turn their tragedy into hope for others by donating her organs to save the lives of three people. Their noble act, the first in the Emirati community, sets a remarkable example for others. 

Hamama Obaid Khamis: She learned traditional healing from her parents and dedicated her life to serving her community through herbal remedies, cauterisation therapy and traditional midwifery.

Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal: A leading Emirati cultural figure who has enriched the arts and culture landscape in the UAE and the wider region. He founded the Alserkal Avenue in Dubai’s Al Quoz and established the Alserkal Arts Foundation, a non-profit organisation for artists, in 2019. 

Late David Heard: A passionate historian and author, he wrote several notable works on the history of the UAE and the development of the region’s oil industry. He passed away in 2024, leaving a legacy in education, cultural exchange, and the preservation of the UAE’s history.

Late Sultan Ali Al Owais: A renowned patron of culture and philanthropy, Al Owais dedicated his life to advancing culture and charitable work in the UAE. He founded the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award in 1987 to honour writers and intellectuals. He also established schools and hospitals and tangible support for education and healthcare locally and regionally. He also contributed to national infrastructure by funding five major dams in Fujairah and Ajman that continue to supply water for farmers. Al Owais passed away in 2000. 

Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak: Over the past two decades, Al Mubarak has made notable contributions as an influential UAE government policymaker and international business leader. Al Mubarak embodies Emirati leadership by transforming ambition into achievement, challenge into opportunity, and ideas into reality, thereby contributing to the nation’s continued advancement and prosperity.