Zayed Award names Palestinian organization Taawon as third honoree

By Deborah Castellano Lubov

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity announced on Monday that the Palestinian non-profit organization Taawon will be third honoree of its seventh edition.

During the annual award ceremony at the Founder's Memorial in Abu Dhabi on February 4, 2026, the organization, established in 1983, will be honored alongside the first and second honorees.

Palestinian organization Taawon was selected in recognition of its exceptional humanitarian and developmental work, which touches the lives of over one million Palestinians annually across the West Bank, Gaza, and refugee camps in Lebanon.

Since its founding, Taawon has invested more than USD $1 billion across various initiatives, including education, youth empowerment, orphan care, cultural projects, rehabilitation of historic towns, and community development, including health, agriculture, and emergency humanitarian assistance.

The organization has implemented over 8,200 projects that support Palestinians, particularly young people, in strengthening resilience, advancing opportunities, and elevating communities economically, socially, and culturally, while at the same time preserving Palestinian heritage, promoting sustainable development, and showcasing enduring civilization and renewed creativity.

The Chairman of Taawon’s Board of Directors, Dr. Nabil H. Qaddumi, expressed gratitude to the award’s judging committee, comprised of a global panel of experts in advancing dialogue and human coexistence.

Last week, the Zayed Award judges named the historic peace agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia as the first honoree and Afghan girl's advocate, Zarqa Yaftali as the second.

President Ilham Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of the Republic of Armenia expressed their pride in the joint recognition contributing to strengthening efforts to advance peace in the Caucasus region. 

Since 2019, the award has honored 20 recipients from 20 countries, recognizing international institutions and figures that have made outstanding contributions to promoting and advancing the values of human fraternity worldwide.