Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was honoured for his commitment to humanitarianism.
Dubai International Human Aid and Development (Dihad) conference gave Sheikh Mohamed the "international personality award for humanitarian relief" for his support in strengthening aid and for the UAE's role in providing medical aid and support for people around the world, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, accepted the award on Sheikh Mohamed's behalf, which was presented by Gerhard Putman-Cramer, director of the conference's scientific board.
The award is one of the most prominent of its kind and honours those who play a major role in supporting people in need and the international institutions and organisations working in humanitarian relief.
The three-day conference, meanwhile, brought together decision-makers from non-government organisations, UN agencies, charities and government bodies, together with aid, education and construction providers from the private sector.
This year it focused on how coronavirus was affecting Africa.
Patrick Youssef, the International Committee of the Red Cross Africa director, expressed concern at the "massive" socio-economic impact the virus would have on the continent in the years to come, while Ann Encontre, who works for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Ethiopia, said attempts to curb the spread of Covid-19 are doomed to failure unless refugees are included in vaccination drives.
The conference ends on Wednesday.
