The Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for World Peace, the world’s richest prize for outstanding humanitarian work, will be presented at the third Dubai International Peace Convention to be held in Dubai this week.

The $1.5 million global awards will honour individuals and organizations.

The third Dubai International Peace Convention will be held at the Dubai World Trade Center from April 17-19 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The convention, which will be hosted in collaboration with Al Manar Quran Study Centre, an organization that seeks to impart Islamic education, will draw a number of scholars and clerics from various Arab and Islamic countries, said  Dr Hamad bin Al Sheikh Ahmed Al Shaibani, chairman of the board of trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace and chairman of the Dubai International Peace Convention.

Addressing the media, he said the Dubai International Peace Convention presents a golden opportunity to accurately highlight Islam’s teachings of peace as a doctrine that promotes harmony, tolerance and moderation.

The award also aims to build bridges of cooperation between diverse cultures with a view to fortifying international relations.

Dr Al Shaibani also shared details of a strategic plan drawn up by Mohammed Bin Rashid Award for World Peace for the period 2014 - 2016.

He said: “The past two years saw the Board of Trustees taking a number of important decisions such as the formation of a benchmarking taskforce for the peace awards and seconding official delegations to participate in international peace prizes with the aim of exploring best practices that could be factored into the three-year strategic plan.”

Sultan Butti Bin Mejren, vice chairman of the board of trustees and vice chairman of the Dubai International Peace Convention, said: “His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s approval of the value of the awards makes it the richest peace prize globally. Worth $1.5 million, the award will honour deserving individuals and organizations from around the world for exemplary contributions to world harmony and inter-faith dialogue. The ruler’s benevolent gesture also articulates his commitment to promoting world harmony. A special jury has been set up to evaluate nominees according to world-class standards to ensure credibility and inspire higher accomplishments worldwide.”

Dr Omar Mohammad Al Khateeb, member of the award's board of trustees, said the Dubai International Peace Convention will include inter-faith panel discussions in multiple languages.

He added the public will be given the opportunity to participate in activities associated with the convention including the Intelligent Peace Dome, a science fair, Friday prayers, the Peace Pledge campaign, Children's Corner and the 2014 Peace Football Tournament for schools.

The closing ceremony of the event will also honour the special guests, sponsors and participants of the event. - TradeArabia News Service