H.H. Sheikh Hamdan awards Arab Hope Makers

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, has awarded Morocco's Fouzia Jbara Mahmoudi with AED1 million as the top winner of the Arab Hope Maker initiative on Sunday.

His Highness also awarded the two other finalists, Kuwait's Hend Alhajri, and Morocco's Abderrahmane Rais with AED1 million each for their humanitarian efforts during the sixth edition of the event. 

Mahmoudi earned the top honours amongst 15,800 participants after receiving the highest number of votes during the closing ceremony of the initiative held at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai.

 Sheikh Hamdan congratulated the finalists and all participants of the sixth edition of the initiative, stating that "the UAE remains committed to its great mission to create hope. It is our duty and our responsibility to sow the seeds of goodness, and to nurture every noble initiative aimed at uplifting humanity”.

In a post shared on social media platform X, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, also shared a message congratulating Mahmoudi, the Moroccan people, and their leadership on the win, adding that "there is no choice but to continue planting the seeds of optimism and hope, by which nations live, by which generations thrive, and by which miracles are create". 

بحضور الآلاف من الشباب العربي اليوم في دبي كرمنا الفائزة بصناع الأمل في موسمه السادس فوزية محمودي من المغرب ..

نبارك للشعب المغربي وقيادته الرشيدة .. ونبارك للشباب العربي هذا الحراك الإيجابي .. ونشد على يدهم .. ونقول بأن صناعة الأمل هي صناعة للحياة .. ولا بد من الاستمرار في غرس… pic.twitter.com/ftKV9vPBU0

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 15, 2026

Mahmoudi was awarded for her foundation, Operation Smile, which is dedicated to providing free-of-charge care for children born with cleft lips and palates.

The foundation currently operates three specialised medical centres in Casablanca, El Jadida, and Oujda, with a fourth facility nearing completion in Marrakech. It has  successfully performed more than 19,000 surgeries and offered dental care services to over 120,000 individuals since its inception in 1999.  

Finalists Alhajri and Rais have also been appreciated for their humanitarian efforts. Alhajri has founded 'Fatima House' in Tanzania, which currently provides accommodation for 47 children to avoid the separation of orphans from their siblings. 

Meanwhile, Rais has become synonymous with Suroor, a humanitarian initiative dedicated to supporting widows and women in need across Morocco, with his debt-relief initiative already helping over 7,000 people. Beyond financial aid, he spearheads projects to dig wells, build homes, and sponsor Umrah trips. To date, his collective humanitarian efforts have empowered more than 20,000 beneficiaries.

The Arab Hope Makers initiative remains the largest in the Arab world dedicated to honouring people who make a difference to the lives of others.

It was launched in 2017 when Sheikh Mohammed posted a creative ad on his official social media accounts offering a job for the position of Hope Maker for a reward of AED1 million.