Dubai: Moroccan Fouzia Mahmoudi Crowned at the 2026 “Arab Hope Makers”
Moroccan community activist Fouzia Mahmoudi was honored Sunday evening in Dubai with the “Arab Hope Makers” award in its sixth edition.
The distinction was presented by the Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of the United Arab Emirates, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in recognition of Mahmoudi’s exceptional journey dedicated to restoring smiles to thousands of children and transforming personal pain into an inspiring humanitarian message that has positively impacted countless families.
During the closing ceremony of the sixth edition of the initiative, the second laureate, Moroccan content creator Abdelrahman Rais, was also honored for launching the “Sourour” project aimed at paying off widows’ debts. The third laureate, Hind Al Hajri from Kuwait, was recognized for her initiative “Bayt Fatima,” dedicated to supporting orphans in Zanzibar, Tanzania.
This distinction highlights their humanitarian actions, which have strengthened the values of solidarity and mutual support while creating tangible change in the lives of thousands of beneficiaries. Each winner will receive a financial award of one million Emirati dirhams to support and expand their humanitarian projects.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mahmoudi said her primary motivation remains the smiles on children’s faces.
“I have devoted 28 years of my life to children who were living in isolation at home, and I hope to give even more so they can begin their lives and be accepted by others,” she stated.
Her journey carries a deeply human and emotional dimension. After giving birth to a daughter with a congenital malformation, Mahmoudi faced a painful personal ordeal. Rather than succumbing to despair, she transformed her experience into a message of hope serving thousands of children, helping them regain a normal life.
She went on to found the association Opération Sourire, which became the foundation of a noble humanitarian initiative that has restored smiles to more than 19,000 children over 28 years of continuous community engagement.
Upon realizing that many children with malformations were living in isolation, hidden from public view due to fear of ridicule or pity, Mahmoudi dedicated herself to restoring their confidence and offering them a new chance at life, with renewed self esteem and dignity. Her efforts revived hope not only in the hearts of the children but also among their families.
For Mahmoudi, surgical interventions, despite their financial cost, have always represented an opportunity for children to return to school, play, and reintegrate into society after periods of isolation. She has consistently affirmed that restoring a smile means restoring dignity and building a new future, not merely changing outward appearance.
The “Arab Hope Makers” initiative was launched in 2017 by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is considered the largest initiative of its kind in the Arab world, celebrating individuals who demonstrate altruism by recognizing their humanitarian, charitable, and social projects.
The initiative aims to spotlight hope makers across the Arab world who dedicate their time, effort, and resources to serving others by helping the poor and vulnerable, assisting those affected by crises, and improving living conditions in their communities. It also seeks to promote their initiatives through both traditional and digital media platforms.
Editorial team/le7tv
