UAE leader recognized at Never Is Now Summit for his leadership in brokering the historic Abraham Accords and for promoting peace and dialogue in the Middle East
New York, NY, March 3, 2025 … ADL (the Anti-Defamation League) today honored Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates’ Ambassador to the United States, with the Abraham Award at this year’s Never Is Now summit. The award recognized the Ambassador’s instrumental role in brokering the historic Abraham Accords and his leadership in fostering ADL’s work in the UAE through the establishment of the Manara Center.
“Ambassador Al Otaiba has been a steadfast advocate for peace, understanding, and interfaith cooperation,” said Jonathan Greenblatt, ADL CEO, in presenting the award. “His leadership in helping bring the Abraham Accords to fruition has shown us all a pathway towards greater regional stability and collaboration. His commitment to advancing tolerance and people to people relations through the Manara Center and many other UAE interfaith initiatives embodies the values that ADL holds dear.”
More than 4,000 leaders, activists, and changemakers from around the world are gathered for the Never Is Now summit, ADL’s flagship conference on antisemitism and hate. This year’s event highlighted key figures driving impactful change, with Ambassador Al Otaiba’s recognition serving as a testament to the power of diplomacy and education in building a better future.
“I am honored to receive this award from ADL,” said Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba. “The Abraham Accords demonstrated the potential of dialogue and cooperation in fostering peace and opportunity. I am proud of the work the UAE continues to do to promote mutual understanding through many initiatives like the Manara Center. The UAE is committed to promoting values of inclusion and tolerance. With over 200 nationalities and countless faiths living together, the UAE is home to more than 40 churches, two Hindu temples, a Sikh temple and a Buddhist temple, which welcome multi-national congregations. The Abrahamic Family House, which opened in 2023, houses a mosque, church and synagogue side-by-side.”
The Manara Center, established in partnership with ADL in 2023, serves as a hub for promoting coexistence, combating extremism, and fostering academic and cultural exchange in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia. Its creation and program delivery across the region represents a significant step toward regional and global efforts to counter hate and extremism and build bridges between communities.