It is an international independent award that recognizes profound contributions to the facilitation of peaceful coexistence and human progress. The award is for individuals anywhere in the world who lead by example, creating breakthroughs by collaborating selflessly and tirelessly across divides to drive real, conviction-led progress.

Each year, the recipient(s) will be presented with a USD $1 million, an honorary certificate, and a trophy.

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the founder of the United Arab Emirates in 1971. His life was dedicated to working closely with people from all cultural backgrounds. His legacy remains one of compassion, respect and innovation - values that to this day shape the culture of the people and leadership of the UAE.

The award was established in February 2019 when His Eminence Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, met together in Abu Dhabi to sign the Document on Human Fraternity. The Document is a visionary joint declaration built upon friendship and mutual respect. It calls for human fraternity, interfaith dialogue, and communication.

It is an independent international committee established with a joint agreement between His Holiness Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, His Eminence Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. The Committee is entrusted to uphold and promote the human fraternity values within communities and realize the lofty principles outlined in the Document on Human Fraternity, signed by His Holiness the Pope and His Eminence the Grand Imam on February 4, 2019, in Abu Dhabi. The HCHF is responsible for forming the Judging Committee of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity and providing all the support and means that allow it to take its decision independently and objectively until the announcement of the winner(s) of the award.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was first awarded honorarily in 2019 to the Head of the Catholic Church His Holiness Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar His Eminence Ahmed Al-Tayeb, following their historic signing of the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi. The 2021 cycle was the first time the award opened to nominations from all parts of the world and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and Moroccan-French activist, Latifa Ibn Ziaten were the honorees.

There are no separate categories. It is a single award that will go to the nominee(s) (individual or entity) that best meets the criteria as evaluated by the award committee.

There is a prize of USD $1 million to be awarded to a single recipient, or shared among multiple recipients, in addition to an honorary certificate and a trophy.

Only qualified nominators can nominate candidates for the award. Nominators must be:

• A member of government or a current or former head of state
• A member of parliament
• The president of a Supreme Court
• A member of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity
• A UN senior executive
• The head of an international NGO
• A university president
• A Zayed Award for Human Fraternity honoree
• An intellectual, spiritual or cultural leader

Nominations from qualified nominators can be submitted without invitation.

Nominators will be required to upload official documentation confirming eligibility to nominate.

Each nomination application submitted will be evaluated by the judging committee based upon the following judging criteria:

• Contributions to the promotion of global fraternity, solidarity of the human family, justice and world peace
• Impact on the local community, serving as a role model and also shaping others to become role models
• Innovation to find new ways to foster fraternity and collaboration
• Recognition from notable figures and/or international organizations and institutions and/or community members

The independent judging committee for deciding the award is appointed by the Higher Committee for Human Fraternity. Each year, the judging committee of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is composed of a group of prominent personalities in the area of peacebuilding and human coexistence.

• H.E. Catherine Samba-Panza, former President of the Central African Republic
• H.E. Muhammad Jusuf Kalla, former Vice-President of the Republic of Indonesia
• Rt. Hon. Michaelle Jean, 27th Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada
• Cardinal Dominique Mamberti, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
• Adama Dieng, Former UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide
• Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity

• H.E. Mahamadou Issoufou, Former President of the Republic of Niger
• H.E. José Ramos Horta, Former President of East Timor and Nobel Peace Laureate
• Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
• Cardinal Michael Czerny, Under-secretary of the Section for Migrants of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development
• Dr. Leah Pisar, President, the Aladdin Project
• Judge Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity

Any individual or entity that has made a profound contribution to the facilitation of human fraternity may be nominated for the award.

The winner will be announced on February 4th of every year. This day marks the anniversary of the signing of the Document on Human Fraternity and the International Day of Human Fraternity, which was declared by the United Nations to be celebrated each year.