Registration for the Arab Hope Makers initiative closed on Saturday, after receiving more than 87,000 submissions.
The programme, which falls under the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), is the largest of its kind dedicated to honouring people in the Arab world and beyond, who spend their lives spreading hope.
Any individual, group or organisation committed to humanitarian and community work in any field was able to register. Submissions were received from 15 Arab countries and another 20 states, surpassing last year's registrations and confirmed that the initiative's message of altruism is becoming truly global.
The second round of Arab Hope Makers was launched by Sheikh Mohammed in February to honour and celebrate individuals who dedicate their lives to helping others. The initiative will reward one winner with AED1 million in recognition of the effort, and to support their mission so they can help as many people as possible.
This year’s submissions also saw an increase from young Arabs residing in Western communities, especially in Europe, who have launched projects to help alleviate the suffering of individuals in need, including immigrants and refugees. More than 70 per cent of all applicants came from people under the age of 35.
Regarding the applications, Mohammed Omran, the project manager at MBRGI, said: "It was encouraging to see such an enthusiastic participation from a very diverse group of people; it was a true demonstration of what Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum says that every person has goodness inside them, and that every person has the power to contribute positively.
“We received thousands of applications from people who dedicate their lives to humanitarian causes with their own personal investments, without any support from anyone and without any monetary benefit, motivated only by their philanthropic spirit,” he continued.
“It was striking to see the overwhelming amount of participation by young Arabs, especially those between 21 and 35 years old. This really showed the social awareness and the spirit of giving and altruism that is growing among the youth.”
In terms of countrywide participation, the highest number of submissions came from Saudi Arabia, with more than 18 per cent of the total, followed by Egypt with 12 per cent, Algeria (10), Morocco (nine) and the UAE in fifth, with more than eight per cent.