Gaza Calling Campaign Receives Gold Recognition at Dragons MENA Awards

The International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council's advocacy initiative has been honoured for its strategic communication in raising global awareness of humanitarian needs and showcasing the UAE's compassionate response.

Effective communication in service of humanitarian causes requires both clarity of purpose and reach that extends beyond conventional boundaries. The International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council’s Gaza Calling campaign has been recognised for precisely this calibre of work, winning the Gold Award at the Dragons MENA Awards 2026 in acknowledgement of its strategic messaging and its success in illuminating the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Mohammed Jalal Al Rayssi, Chairman of the Media Committee of the International Humanitarian and Philanthropic Council, received the award, which honours the sustained communication efforts undertaken by the campaign over the preceding year. The initiative has worked to raise awareness of humanitarian needs, to showcase the UAE’s humanitarian initiatives and support for the Palestinian people, and to carry its message to progressively wider audiences.

The Dragons MENA Awards form part of a distinguished lineage. The parent programme, the Dragons of Asia Awards, was established in 2000 to honour outstanding campaigns by communications agencies and organisations across Asia, with particular emphasis on creativity, strategic thinking and measurable results. Over subsequent decades, the programme expanded across Malaysia, Pakistan and Sri Lanka before establishing its Middle East and North Africa edition, reflecting the growing significance of the region’s communications landscape.

The award underscores a broader truth: that in addressing global crises, communication itself becomes an instrument of solidarity. By elevating the narratives of those affected by humanitarian challenges, such campaigns serve to deepen understanding, foster compassion and mobilise resources. As the UAE has demonstrated through its rapid response to crises in other regions, the capacity to communicate humanitarian need and coordinated assistance extends the nation’s commitment to international solidarity far beyond immediate borders.

The recognition reflects a deepening understanding across the region that communication serves humanitarian purposes not as an afterthought, but as an essential element of response. Through campaigns that highlight initiatives and promote values of solidarity and giving, awareness of urgent needs reaches those who can contribute materially to alleviating suffering.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi and the wider Emirates, the award affirms the sophisticated role that strategic communication plays in articulating the nation’s humanitarian values on the international stage. The recognition demonstrates that the UAE’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations is matched by an equally thoughtful approach to ensuring that support reaches those who need it, while building global understanding of shared humanitarian responsibility.

The Dragons MENA Awards platform provides international visibility for campaigns that embody the principles of compassion and giving that define the UAE’s approach to global engagement. This recognition positions Abu Dhabi’s humanitarian voice within a regional and international conversation, reinforcing the Emirates’ leadership in responding to crises and advocating for those whose needs might otherwise remain unheard.

Source: WAM