Abdulmonem Alserkal is a leading Emirati cultural figure who has enriched the arts and culture landscape and played a pioneering role in advancing the cultural scene in the UAE and the wider region.

His passion for culture and the creative arts took shape in Dubai’s Al Quoz with the founding of Alserkal Avenue, one of the region’s foremost cultural districts, home to galleries, performance spaces, creative institutions, and a vibrant hub for dialogue and innovation.

In 2019, he established the ‘Alserkal Arts Foundation’, a non-profit organisation supporting artists, researchers, and students through educational programs, grants, and residencies, further cementing Dubai and the UAE’s position as a global destination for art and creativity.

Alserkal has served on advisory boards of leading international institutions, including Tate and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. His honors include the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France) and the UAE Medal for Culture and Creativity, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the cultural sector.

The late David Heard is closely associated with the modern history of the United Arab Emirates. In the 1960s, he worked as an engineer in Abu Dhabi’s oil sector, helping to develop the industry alongside Emirati colleagues and contributing to the foundational strategic policies that shaped the nation’s energy sector.
Beyond his professional achievements, Heard quietly devoted himself to documenting the UAE’s transformation, from pearl diving and trade to a modern, prosperous nation. A passionate historian and author, he wrote several notable works on the history of the UAE and the development of the region’s oil industry.

Out of his deep affinity for the UAE and its people, he generously donated to New York University Abu Dhabi’s library more than 440 archival units, collected over 50+ years.

Heard passed away in 2024, leaving a lasting legacy in education, cultural exchange, and the preservation of the UAE’s history.

The late Sultan Ali Al Owais was a renowned patron of culture and philanthropy whose life and resources were dedicated to culture, knowledge, and charitable work in the UAE and the region.

Believing in culture’s role in advancing creativity and learning, he founded the ‘Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award’ in 1987, today one of the Arab world’s most prestigious literary prizes, honoring hundreds of writers and intellectuals.

His generosity extended to humanitarian and development initiatives, including the establishment of schools and hospitals, and tangible support for education and healthcare locally and regionally. He also contributed to national infrastructure by funding five major dams in Fujairah and Ajman that continue to supply water for farmers.

In 1996, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan awarded him the Order of Zayed Medal for his national and cultural service. 

Al Owais passed away in 2000. In June 2025, the UNESCO celebrated the centenary of his birth, recognizing his distinguished impact on Emirati and Arab culture and literature and his embodiment of UNESCO’s values of culture and human identity.

A national figure whose life was defined by generosity, kindness, and service to others, the late Mohammed Ibrahim Bin Obaidallah dedicated his efforts to humanitarian and charitable work, and to advancing healthcare in the UAE. Notably, he founded the ‘Obaidallah Geriatric Hospital’ in Ras Al Khaimah in 2009, the first specialized hospital of its kind in the country.

He also played a key role in developing healthcare facilities, including the Dialysis Center in Ras Al Khaimah and the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Center at Rashid Hospital in Dubai. His philanthropy extended to education through scholarships and support for students in need.

A founding member of Beit Al Khair Society, he championed medical, relief, and development programs that improved healthcare for many.
His honors include the President’s Appreciation Award (2012), the UAE Pioneers Award (2017), and the Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences. 

He passed away in 2025, leaving a powerful example of generosity, compassion, and humanitarianism.

Mozah Al Hafeiti is a role model in education with more than two decades of service as a teacher at the Zayed Educational Complex in Dibba Al-Fujairah. She is known for innovative contributions that enhance the learning environment and for her commitment to nurturing an informed, creative generation grounded in strong values.

Two of her most notable initiatives include the Interactive Digital Prayer Rug for teaching prayer and a Digital Library launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has led numerous educational programs to develop students’ skills, instill values, and train teachers through voluntary workshops.

Widely recognized for her impact, she was listed among the Top 50 nominees for the GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize and has received major honors including the Khalifa Award for Education, the Hamdan Bin Rashid Award for Distinguished Academic Performance, and the Sharjah Award for Educational Excellence.

Through her pioneering spirit, Moza Al Hefeiti continues to inspire teachers and students across the UAE - creating an impact that will last for generations. 

A businessman and philanthropist, Obaid Kenish Al Hameli has made significant contributions to community development and charitable work.

Despite losing his parents at a young age, he pursued his ambitions with determination. 

Obaid began as a field guide for oil exploration teams and was an early advocate encouraging youth in the Al Dhafra region to continue their education.

In 1998, he launched the Obaid Bin Kenish Al Hameli Award for Academic Excellence, the first of its kind in Al Dhafra, which has helped raise educational standards across the region.

Through his immense contributions, he has embodied a distinguished model of generosity, leaving a humanitarian legacy that continues to inspire future generations.

Following the passing of their five-year-old daughter, Zahia, parents Salem and Fatima Al Mansouri selflessly chose to turn their profound grief into seeds of hope and new life for others through a humanitarian decision that reflects highest values of generosity that are deeply rooted in Emirati society.

In a gesture of great compassion, the Al Mansoori family decided to donate their daughter Zahia’s organs, a courageous act that saved the lives of three people, including two children and an adult, both within the UAE and abroad. 

As the first Emirati family to take this noble step, Salem and Fatima Al Mansoori’s decision have set a remarkable precedent, contributing to greater public awareness of the UAE’s “Hayat” organ donation program, transforming their story into a powerful example of how loss can be turned into hope, and how one brave act can help others and leave a positive impact on society.
Through their inspirational actions, the Al Mansoori family embodies an enduring message of selflessness and hope, and their story is a testament to the highest values of humanity and a reminder that true generosity can live on, even after one’s passing.

Born in Al Dhaid, Hamama Obaid Khamis learned traditional healing from her parents and dedicated her life to serving her community through herbal remedies, cauterization therapy, and traditional midwifery.

For more than seven decades, Hamama welcomed thousands of patients into her home from across the Emirates and the region. She offered care without seeking payment, believing that healing is both a humanitarian mission and a social duty. 

Before the spread of modern hospitals, she practiced as a midwife and helped deliver many children, guided by her conviction that caring for others is both a humanitarian mission and a social duty.

Through generosity, skill, and devotion, Hamama embodies the noblest values of service and giving.

His Excellency Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi is an accomplished national figure across a variety of fields, including government, culture and philanthropy, whose journey of giving is deeply intertwined with the history of the nation.

He grew up in an environment that instilled in him the values of integrity, generosity, and service to the nation, principles that have guided his life of dedication and achievement.

His Excellency has held several prominent leadership positions, including serving as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1977 to 1990, and later as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1990 to 2005, during which he played a key role in the implementation of the UAE’s foreign policy and the strengthening of its regional and international presence. Earlier in his career, he served as Undersecretary at the Ministry of Information and Tourism. 

His Excellency served as the first Commissioner General of the Abu Dhabi Pavilion at Expo 1970 in Osaka, Japan, where he represented the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. He played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for bilateral tieswith Japan and in opening new avenues for political and economic cooperation between the two countries. Despite the challenges he faced during this mission, he successfully secured the necessary resources to deliver a remarkable pavilion that proudly represented the Emirate. This milestone marked the beginning of a solid foundation for enduring collaboration between the two countries.

In addition to his distinguished government service, His Excellency is well known for his commitment to the community and his dedication to humanitarian and charitable initiatives. Among his most notable contributions are the establishment of the Rashid Center for Diabetes and Research in 2010, and the Rashid bin Abdullah Al Nuaimi Charitable Foundation in 2012.

His Excellency has also made significant contributions to the cultural field. He authored what is widely considered to be the first modern Emirati novel, “Shahenda,” in 1971, and his book “Zayed: From the City of Al Ain to the Presidency of the Union,” is an important national reference that documents important aspects of the life and legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace.

His Excellency Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi remains a role model of devotion, integrity, and tireless

Over the past two decades, His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak has made notable contributions to the development journey adopted by Abu Dhabi and the UAE. In every position he has held, he exemplified the values of dedication, service to the nation, professionalism, and integrity; representing the UAE with distinction and setting a powerful example for current and future generations.

As a leading UAE government policymaker and influential international business leader, His Excellency Khaldoon continues to support the nation's broader goals of sustainable economic development and diversification, reflecting the UAE's dynamic society and economy. Through his leadership, His Excellency oversees numerous strategic projects and initiatives that contribute to advancing the UAE leadership's vision across diverse sectors, including strategic international relations, the economy, investment, infrastructure, energy, education, healthcare, advanced technology and Artificial Intelligence.

In addition to his highly regarded professional accomplishments, His Excellency has always been an empowering leader, demonstrating the values of commitment, care, and respect towards everyone -- qualities that set him apart and endear him to all.  Within the organisations that he leads, His Excellency Khaldoon fosters a culture of support and excellence, inspiring others to perform at their best and nurturing a new generation of promising talented professionals committed to carrying the UAE's pioneering vision forward.

Among a broad range of notable responsibilities, His Excellency Khaldoon currently serves as Managing Director and Group CEO of Mubadala Investment Company, a position he held since the company's inception in 2002. He is also Chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority, and has served as a member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council since 2004. His Excellency also chairs and serves as a member on several national and international boards and higher committees, reflecting his extensive and diverse portfolio. 

His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak embodies the model of Emirati leadership --capable of turning ambition into achievement, challenge into opportunity, and ideas into reality--contributing to the nation's advancement and sustainable prosperity.