Sharjah Crown Prince honours 22nd SAVW winners

Recognition of distinguished personalities

The ceremony, hosted at the Sharjah Education Academy, recognised His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Humanitarian Envoy of The Big Heart Foundation, in the Veteran Personalities category for his exceptional contributions to humanitarian and volunteer work. Also recognised were Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Advisor at the Ruler’s Office, for his distinguished volunteer and charitable efforts in community service, and Khamis bin Salem Al Suwaidi, Advisor at the Ruler’s Office, for his notable community service contributions.

Overview of the Award

His Highness the Crown Prince was presented with a comprehensive overview of the award’s 14 categories, which included details on the number of winners, honourees, veteran figures, and the sustainable endowment initiatives backed by the award.

Ceremony highlights

The event commenced with the UAE national anthem, followed by a recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. Attendees, including His Highness, then viewed a theatrical performance and a video presentation that emphasised the value of family volunteering and its positive impact on both individuals and society, reinforcing principles of social cohesion and solidarity.

Showcasing Award milestones

A second video showcased key award milestones, featuring notable figures, statistics on participants and winners across various categories, total recorded volunteer hours, and the accomplishments of the honourees.

Chairman’s address: Reinforcing volunteerism

In his address, Ahmed Ibrahim Al Mail, Chairman of the Social Services Department and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work, reaffirmed Sharjah’s commitment—under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah—to promoting volunteerism and a culture of community giving. He highlighted that over the award’s 22-year history, hundreds of individuals and institutions have been recognised for exemplary humanitarian and volunteer initiatives, helping to strengthen social unity and solidarity.

Celebrating impact and innovation

Al Mail praised the esteemed status the award has attained, noting its role as a prominent platform for celebrating innovation in charitable work, cultivating a sense of social responsibility among youth, and inspiring both public and private sector institutions to implement meaningful volunteer initiatives.

Inclusivity and moral commitment

He further stressed that the award encourages participation from all community segments, including persons with disabilities and the elderly. Volunteerism, he noted, transcends age and circumstance, driven by a deep-seated belief in serving others. Quoting the words of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, he said: “Volunteer work is a noble human value and a vital contributor to achieving comprehensive societal development. It fosters moral values through active participation and boundless generosity.”

A call to continue the journey

Concluding his remarks, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees congratulated the award winners, extended his appreciation to the judging panel, the board members, and all those who contributed to elevating the award’s status. He urged everyone to continue on the path of volunteering, describing it as both a humanitarian obligation and a driving force for social cohesion and sustainable growth.

Jury Chairman’s address

For his part, Dr Abdul Aziz bin Butti Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah Award for Voluntary Work Jury, delivered a speech in which he emphasised the significant role volunteers play in strengthening community cohesion and solidarity. He noted that the 22nd edition witnessed widespread participation, revealing that the award received 292 applications, of which 142 were qualified. These applications were carefully reviewed, and the winners were selected with precision and transparency according to clear and objective criteria. This reflects the award's prestigious position in promoting the culture of volunteering and its lofty values in the UAE.

Acknowledging support and encouragement

The Chairman of the Jury expressed his sincere appreciation to the Board of Trustees for its ongoing support, which has played a vital role in the award’s growth and success. He highlighted that this support reflects the Board’s strong commitment to the award’s mission and noble objectives. He encouraged all participants to continue their volunteer efforts and actively contribute to community service, wishing them continued success and distinction in this meaningful endeavour.

Best Volunteer Opportunity Creator Award
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His Highness honoured the award's 14 different categories. In the Best Volunteer Opportunity Creator Award, Dubai Municipality won in the Government Institutions category for the "One Hour with a Cleaning Engineer" opportunity, while the Emirates Cancer Society won in the Non-Governmental Institutions category for the "Health Awareness Ambassadors Programme."

Distinguished Supporter of Volunteer Work Award

In the Distinguished Supporter of Volunteer Work Award, the Dubai Police General Command took first place, and the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi took second place in the Government Institutions category. Mohammed Issa Al Hammadi won first place in the Individuals category.

Best Volunteer Initiative Award

The Dubai Police General Command received the Best Volunteer Initiative Award in the Government Institutions category for its “Establishing Protection Schools” initiative. In the Families category, the family of Mohammed Abdullah Mohammed Al Ali was honoured for their “My Book is My Friend” initiative, while Fatima Ismail Al Sarayrah won in the Individuals category for her “Statement for Autism” initiative.

Volunteer teams and private sector recognition

The Abaqira Volunteer Team earned first place in the Volunteer Teams category for their initiative, "Integrating Our Children with Our Elders," while the Najah Academic Centre at Abu Dhabi University secured the top spot in the Private Sector category for their “Peer Mentoring Program.”

Volunteer hours record Winners

Ismail Halkouj set the record in the Individual category with 3,978 volunteer hours. In the Family category, Hanan Saeed Saeed Salem's family claimed first place with 306 hours. The Ataa Hamdan Volunteer Team topped the Volunteer Team category, contributing an impressive 45,477 volunteer hours.

University Student and Knight of Volunteer Work Awards

The University Student Award for highest volunteer participation was awarded to Batoul Saadi Ibrahim Al-Najjar, who completed 1,943 volunteer hours. The Knight of Volunteer Work Award went to Tabarak Saadi Al-Najjar for achieving 1,606 volunteer hours.

Asalah Award for Elderly Participation

The Asalah Award for Best Volunteer Participation by the Elderly was awarded to Halima Ahmed Saif Al Naqbi, who earned first place with 86 volunteer hours. Latifa Mahmoud Mohammed secured second place with 26 hours, while Mira Hamad Saif Al Ketbi came in third with 25 hours.

Himma Award for Volunteer Participation

The Himma Award for Best Volunteer Participation was awarded to Salem Mohammed Karim, who claimed first place with 1,296 volunteer hours. Ayman Azhari Ali earned second place with 575.2 hours, while Salma Khamis Hamdan Al Salami secured third place with 301 hours.

Civil society and volunteer leadership awards

In the Best Civil Society Award category, the International Charity Organisation from Ajman secured first place, while the Hamdan Volunteer Team was recognised as the Best Volunteer Team. Sultan Salem Al Kaabi received the Best Young Leader of a Volunteer Team Award, and Dr Ahmed Mohammed Al Kamali was honoured with the Role Model Volunteer Award. Arada Real Estate Development Company earned the Excellence in Social Responsibility Award, and the Al Khalidiya Suburb Council was named Best Suburb in Volunteer Work.

Special volunteer category honourees

His Highness also honoured the recipients in the Special Volunteer Category, recognising outstanding blood donors including: Adel Abdulrahman Al Ali, Ibrahim Mohammed Al Zarouni, Roger Nicola Sahioni, Abdullah Mohammed Al Mulla, Ibaa Nazir Shabouk, Mubarak Amoud Ghadban, Eid Rashid Al Mutlaq, Jassim Mohammed Al Shehhi, Raed Fadhel Ramadan, Mustafa Abdulrahman Dakhel, and Mohammed Kamal Nazir Al Lauwza.

Supporting Sharjah’s volunteer vision

This annual award is part of the Emirate of Sharjah’s ongoing efforts to promote and support volunteerism, celebrate exemplary contributions in the field, and foster sustainable development while strengthening social solidarity within the community.

Distinguished guests in attendance

The honouring ceremony was attended by Sheikh Essam bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Advisor at the Ruler's Office; Sheikh Dr Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler's Office; Her Excellency Hessa bint Essa Buhumaid, Director General of the Community Development Authority in Dubai; along with several senior officials and award recipients.