The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace will be the most prestigious award with the highest purse money in this category worldwide, according to its Board of Trustees.

Addressed to all religions and cultures, the biennial award is to be granted to any individual or organisation that best inspires and promotes peace around the world.

According to a senior official, the underlying desire behind the award is to spread the inspiring values of Islam throughout the world. “We whole-heartedly believe that Dubai is an exemplary emirate by harmoniously accommodating over 200 nationalities who coexist in peace,” said Dr Hamad Al Shaibani, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award.

Out of five to six similar awards being studied, such as the Nobel, Gandhi and King Faisal peace awards, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace will come up with something new and competitive globally.

“The door is open for ideas, but we promise something different and distinguished and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is the patron of the Award,” he said.

A workshop will be held soon to compare all relevant world peace awards, and then some renowned specialists will lay down the mechanism, terms and conditions of the award.

“Though no money value of the award has been set yet, it is going to be higher and more expensive than any similar award worldwide,” Dr Al Shaibani told Khaleej Times.

Sultan Butti bin Mejren, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the award is driven by its mission to nurture, disseminate and honour visionary contributions to world peace, through creative initiatives that are rooted in an Islamic world view, thereby fostering universal harmony. “This is only possible by adhering to the award’s five values of Equality, Integrity, Responsibility, Transparency and Tolerance.”

Mohammed Al Muhairi, member of the board of trustees, said the award will 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 a mutually respectful manner.”

Al Muhairi, who is also the head of the scientific section of the award, said the award, to be presented every two years starting from 2014, will promote respectful dialogue in an open-minded fashion that takes into account religious and cultural differences. “Throughout this process, the proceedings will be guided by the teachings of Islam in order to tolerate and accommodate differing points of view.”

Peace convention

Later on, Al Muhairi detailed the recommendations of the Dubai International Peace Convention held last month. “The 2012 edition of the convention, surpassing all expectations, saw over 153,000 people of diverse nationalities and faiths, and 36 new Muslims.”

“The milestone event, held under the theme ‘Aiming Global Unity through Peace’, has reinforced the prominent role played by the UAE in general, and Dubai in particular, as a beacon of hope and peaceful coexistence. “It also aims to root out extremist viewpoints and intolerance by stressing Islam’s teachings of moderation and tolerance, whereas violence, injustice and oppression are forbidden by all religions,” Al Muhairi added.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE