Sheikh Zayed Award laureates honored in the UAE

This year’s laureates include a historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as Afghan education advocate and human rights activist Zarqa Yaftali.

The Azerbaijan–Armenia peace agreement was recognized as a landmark political decision by the leadership of both countries, reflecting a shared commitment to ending decades of conflict and humanitarian suffering in the Caucasus. The jury described the agreement as a powerful example of resolving long-standing historical disputes through dialogue, political will, and compromise.

Zarqa Yaftali was honored for her lifelong dedication to defending the right of women and children to education. Through her initiatives, she has provided educational opportunities, psychosocial support, and community-based services to more than 100,000 people in Afghanistan and beyond, often working with communities that have been systematically denied access to schooling.

The laureates were selected by an internationally recognized independent jury composed of prominent political, religious, and humanitarian figures from around the world. The panel includes Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, who is the first and currently the only representative from Central Asia to serve on the jury.

Commenting on the announcement, Mirziyoyeva said the selection of the 2026 laureates reflects a strong global moral commitment to the principles of peace and human dignity. She noted that such recognition can inspire renewed hope within the international community and reaffirm the power of human fraternity to drive meaningful and lasting change.

Reacting to the award, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev described it as a high international assessment of efforts aimed at advancing both regional and global peace. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, characterized the recognition as a shared and collective achievement, emphasizing its symbolic importance in strengthening trust between the two nations.

Zarqa Yaftali said the award represents an important source of encouragement for Afghan women and girls. She stressed that the recognition brings renewed attention to the ongoing struggle for access to education and support services for marginalized communities.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was established in Abu Dhabi in 2019 to commemorate the historic meeting between Pope Francis and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyeb. Since its inception, the award has been presented to leading figures and organizations from across the globe for their efforts to promote peace, coexistence, and compassion.

Since 2019, 19 laureates from 19 countries have received the award in recognition of their contributions to building a more peaceful, harmonious, and humane world grounded in the values of human fraternity.

The official award ceremony for the 2026 laureates will be held on February 4 in Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the United Nations–recognized International Day of Human Fraternity.