Dubai launches world’s most generous peace prize $1.5m

DUBAI // A US$1.5 million (Dh5.51m) peace prize for outstanding humanitarian work forms part of this year’s Dubai International Peace Convention.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace will be the largest prize of its kind in the world, organisers say.

Sultan Butti bin Merjan, vice chairman of Dubai International Peace Convention (DIPC), on Thursday said this is the “richest peace prize globally” and “will honour deserving individuals and organisations from around the world for exemplary contributions to world harmony and interfaith dialogue”.

The prize will not be awarded for a number of years and more details are expected to be announced at the convention.

The DIPC will also feature some of the world’s most-renowned imams, including Yusuf Estes, Dr Zakir Naik, Nouman Ali Khan and Mishary Rashid Al Afasy.

They will be involved in discussions on the status of women in Islam, the ideal Muslim and Islam and social media.

Dr Hamdan Al Shaibani, chairman of DIPC, said the convention would aim to highlight Islam as a “doctrine that promotes harmony, tolerance and moderation”.

The convention will include a children’s corner for the first time to encourage families and mothers to attend lectures, said Dr Omar Al Khateeb, a member of the peace award’s board of trustees. He said another initiative was the “intelligent peace dome”, which follows Dubai’s initiative in becoming a smart city and will explain the creation of the world according to Islam, electronically.

There was also a digital media aspect to the event – the “peace pledge” campaign.

“It is a campaign where we’re looking to involve the whole world and pledging for peace, as it is the world that unifies all differences,” said Mariam Al Afridi, the head of the media committee.

The convention, hosted in collaboration with Al Manar Quran Study Centre, takes place from April 17 to 19 at the World Trade Centre in Dubai.

For more information, visit www.mrawp.gov.ae.