Dh1m Arab Hope Makers Award receives thousands of applications

People across the Arab world, mostly young people, have written in with inspirational stories

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, awards the finalists at the Arab Hope Makers Award in 2018. Reem Mohammed / The National

A competition that rewards Arabs who have made inspirational contributions to society has received more than 15,000 submissions since registration opened two weeks ago.

The third round of the initiative, which rewards its winners with Dh1 million to be invested into their humanitarian project, was launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai.

Of the thousands of applications received, the majority (16.2 per cent) have been submitted from Egypt, closely followed by the UAE with 16 per cent. Submissions have also come from Algeria, Morocco and Iraq.

Almost two thirds of the applications were submitted by Arabs aged between 21 and 35.

The award, launched by Sheikh Mohammed three years ago, celebrates members of a community in the Arab world who are combating social, economic, health and psychological issues with humanitarian initiatives, empowering marginalised groups in society, alleviating the suffering of the poor and sick, and investing in the neglected segments of a particular group.

Last year's winner, from a record 87,000 submissions, was Mahmoud Wahid, chairman of Together to Save a Human, who provides homeless people in Egypt with food and medical care.

The Egyptian, 35, first began working with the homeless after spotting an elderly man living on the street. Recognising that there was no authority in his home country to help the homeless, he set up an association to help provide them with shelter and health care.