Arab Hope Makers winner vows to continue helping children with rare condition

Awards recognise humanitarianism and philanthropy across the region

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid crowns Arab Hope Maker Ahmed Zainoun. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A Moroccan charity worker who cares for children with a rare condition that forces them to live in the dark is the winner of the 2025 Arab Hope Makers award.

Ahmed Zainoun collected the honour from Dubai's Ruler at Coca-Cola Arena on Sunday evening. He will receive Dh1 million ($270,000) in recognition of his work, as will fellow nominees Samar Nadeem and Khadija Al Qarti.

The award was established by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to honour people in the Arab world who dedicate their lives to bettering the lives of others.

Mr Zainoun cares for Children of the Moon, who suffer from a rare disease that causes extreme damage when the sufferer is exposed to sunlight. “I never imagined that people lived in the dark. A child dies without anyone hearing a voice,” said Mr Zainoun, from Morocco. Mr Zainoun provides everything for them, including masks with a heat-protective layer, and makes it his mission to bring them out into the sun.

He told The National that thousands of young people suffer from xeroderma pigmentosum. It was only after seeing an image of a young child with the disease that he dedicated his life to helping them, he said. “They deserve to come out into the light,” he said, “and we must help keep their skin from further disfigurement.”

He says the cases he has seen are so severe that the disease has completely destroyed some children’s facial features. “I’ll never forget a young girl who required several surgeries on her face,” he said. “Nobody deserves to live this life.”

Ms Nadeem, also known as "Egypt’s rose", provides a safe haven for abandoned and neglected elderly mothers. She offers them shelter and picks them up from the streets after they have been abandoned by their families.

“I always tell my kids, if I grow old and wear a nappy, don’t leave me. It’s only a matter of days before I go to God,” she said. “I hope that anyone who has a parent on the street will take them in before I do. It doesn’t mean that just because your parents are sick, you should abandon them. They are heaven on Earth.”

“We all age and will reach that point in our lives. What the elderly need is companionship, and even if they are aggressive or lash out, bear with them — just as they once put up with our tantrums and moods,” she added.

Ms Al Qarti, also from Morocco, lost her husband to cancer, which inspired her to help people in any way she could. She opened her home to cancer patients, sheltering more than 120 women at a time. Over 15 years, her house became a haven for 60,000 women suffering from cancer – many despondent, and one suicidal. She took in 30 patients per day, providing them with food, drink and a place to sleep for free. “I have one door. God has many doors,” she said.

The winners show off their awards at Dubai's Coca-Cola Arena. Chris Whiteoak / The National

What is Arab Hope Makers?

Arab Hope Makers was established in 2017 by Sheikh Mohammed. It attracted more than 300,000 nominations during its first four events. The award was launched to celebrate people engaged in projects that improve and uplift society. Sheikh Mohammed said the fifth Hope Makers received more than 26,000 stories from young men and women.

"Hope is the bridge that connects the reality we live in and the future we desire. We must contribute to building bridges for millions of young people so that they are not overcome by despair and hopelessness," said Sheikh Mohammed earlier this month. In December, the Ruler of Dubai encouraged people to nominate themselves or others on the Arab Hope Makers website.

At the end of last year, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, spoke of the importance of the award in showing charitable endeavours all over the region. "This initiative is a realistic call to combat despair and negativity by focusing on the positive within our Arab communities," Mr Al Gergawi said.