Egyptian surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub is among the winners of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
The founder of the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation in Egypt and the Chain of Hope charitable organisation in the UK, he is well known for his pioneering surgical techniques that have helped save thousands of lives, including those of children.
Sir Magdi, 88, a retired professor of cardiothoracic surgery, has opened cardiac centres in Ethiopia and Mozambique, with a centre in Rwanda's capital Kigali under construction.
He has also received numerous honours including a British knighthood and the Order of Merit from Queen Elizabeth II, as well as the Grand Order of the Nile from Egypt.
I am humbled to be receiving this award because it will help us continue to offer the best treatments to patients
Sir Magdi Yacoub
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity allocates $1 million to a person, group or organisation from any walk of life working to further peaceful coexistence.
Three winners were announced at a media briefing held in Abu Dhabi and will share the $1 million prize.
The award ceremony, held on Monday evening at the Founder's Memorial under the theme 'Tales of Light', was attended by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
“I am humbled to be receiving this award for many reasons but most importantly because it will help us continue to offer the best treatments to patients who do not have access to medical care and need to be looked after,” Sir Magdi said on Friday.
“We are active both in developed and developing countries in Africa and Central Africa to try to alleviate suffering and offer the very best free of charge, while respecting their dignity and looking after them at the highest level.”
Sir Magdi said that there were many talents in the region and around the world who need to be nurtured and utilised to make these services more sustainable and ensure its continuity.
The others honoured include Indonesian organisations Nahdaltul Ulama and Muhammadiya and Chilean grassroots leader Nelly Leon Correa.
Mother Nelly, as she is widely known, is the president and co-founder of the Woman Standing Up Foundation in Chile.
Her organisation focuses on supporting incarcerated women and aiding their reintegration into society.
“We want to be a beacon of hope for women and want them to be seen,” she said.
Having supported about 700 women in Chile's largest prison, she told The National that her hope was to extend her programme to other detention centres in Latin America.
“A woman means family and even though she is incarcerated and doesn't have her freedom, it doesn't mean she stops being a mother.
“My dream is to bring hope to humanity and when my time comes, I would like to die in prison among these women.
“The award and the fact that I am here today in the UAE means that we are finally being seen,” she added.
The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity prize is the first monetary award that the foundation has received.
Nearly 94 per cent of the two-year programme's participants remain conviction-free within two years of release.
Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's largest Islamic organisations with more than 190 million members, have also been recognised for their humanitarian and peace-building efforts.
Through the establishment of educational institutions, hospitals and anti-poverty projects, the organisations have improved the lives of countless Indonesians and vulnerable populations around the world.
“This award is very important for us because we consider it as recognition of our humanitarian work in Indonesia,” Ulil Abshar Abdalla told The National.
“Muslims in Indonesia are the largest [part of the Islamic world] but the knowledge of Islam and Muslims in Indonesia is very minimal and we hope that with this award, our work in humanitarian issues will be known by the outside world.
“We believe this is the beginning of a better understanding of Islam and what we are doing in Indonesia.”
The prize was first established on February 4, 2019, to mark the meeting between Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al Azhar Ahmed Al Tayeb in Abu Dhabi.
Previous winners include UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Moroccan-French activist Latifa Ibn Ziaten.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The more serious side of specialty coffee
While the taste of beans and freshness of roast is paramount to the specialty coffee scene, so is sustainability and workers’ rights.
The bulk of genuine specialty coffee companies aim to improve on these elements in every stage of production via direct relationships with farmers. For instance, Mokha 1450 on Al Wasl Road strives to work predominantly with women-owned and -operated coffee organisations, including female farmers in the Sabree mountains of Yemen.
Because, as the boutique’s owner, Garfield Kerr, points out: “women represent over 90 per cent of the coffee value chain, but are woefully underrepresented in less than 10 per cent of ownership and management throughout the global coffee industry.”
One of the UAE’s largest suppliers of green (meaning not-yet-roasted) beans, Raw Coffee, is a founding member of the Partnership of Gender Equity, which aims to empower female coffee farmers and harvesters.
Also, globally, many companies have found the perfect way to recycle old coffee grounds: they create the perfect fertile soil in which to grow mushrooms.
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
