Under the gracious patronage and in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of the State of Qatar, the Ministry of Social Development and Family (MSDF) organized the inaugural ceremony of the "Rawda" Award for Excellence in Social Work today, Sunday, April 5, 2026, at the Raffles Hotel – Katara Hall. This national occasion reflects the high status of social work in Qatar and reaffirms the state’s appreciation for qualitative community initiatives that deliver tangible and sustainable impact.

The "Rawda" Award is the first national award dedicated to the field of social work. Established by Emiri Decree No. (16) of 2025, it serves as an institutional framework to honor the most impactful and sustainable social initiatives across five main categories: Individuals, Families, Non-Profit Organizations, the Private Sector, and Media.

On this occasion, Her Excellency Ms. Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Social Development and Family, emphasized that the "Rawda" Award represents a qualitative national milestone in establishing a culture of institutional social work in Qatar and enhancing the role of community initiatives as active partners in the national development path. Her Excellency stated: "Emiri Decree No. 16 of 2025, establishing the Rawda Award for Excellence in Social Work, stands as a testament to the special care the state gives to supporting pioneering initiatives that improve quality of life and uphold the values of cooperation and solidarity. It is a certificate of appreciation for everyone who has made community service a steadfast approach in their journey. This award is not just a platform for recognition, but a national platform that monitors initiatives, celebrates achievements, and fosters positive competition to achieve a real and sustainable impact on human lives."

Her Excellency added: "Today, we celebrate those who give selflessly—individuals who, through their humanitarian and charitable initiatives, programs, and campaigns, strive to elevate their society, make a positive difference in people's lives, and harness their resources for the public good. To the brothers and sisters winning the award today: this honor is not the end of the road, but rather a doubled responsibility. Your win today is a testament to your excellence, but it is also a national commitment to continue the journey with the same determination and sincerity. The society that trusted you today expects deeper and broader innovations and initiatives tomorrow. True giving knows no bounds, and excellence is born from the continuity of benefit."

For his part, Mr. Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Ishaq, CEO of the "Rawda" Award for Excellence in Social Work, said that the ceremony represents the culmination of an integrated national path built on appreciation, encouragement, and motivation, within an evaluation system and rigorous judging criteria that ensure transparency and credibility. He added that the award does not only aim to honor winners but also seeks to celebrate the winning initiatives as distinguished models in social work, reflecting the award’s goals of rooting the culture of social work, strengthening community values, and encouraging various groups to lead in providing community service in the State of Qatar.

The ceremony witnessed the honoring of winners in its main categories. In the Individuals category, the "War and Disability, Sport and Peace" initiative by the late Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani won the "Rawda Award," while the "Nurturing and Empowering Value-Based Initiatives with Social Impact" initiative by Dr. Buthaina Abdullah Abdolghani Al-Abdolghani won the "Shield of Mastery."

In the Family category, the "Autism Parents Platform" initiative by the family of Saleh bin Majid Al-Khulaifi won the "Rawda Award," while the "Journey of Hope and Challenge – An Inspiring Family Story" initiative by the family of Fahad Zafer Abdulhadi Al-Ahbabi won the "Shield of Mastery."

In the Non-Profit Organizations category, the "Wiyakum Platform" by the Qatar Cancer Society won the "Rawda Award," alongside the "Sowiyan" project through the Assalam Schools under the Education Above All Foundation. Meanwhile, the "Ajyal Challenge – Impact Makers" initiative by Qatar Charity won the "Shield of Mastery," and the "Marriage Preparation Program" by the Family Consulting Center (Wifaq) received a "Certificate of Appreciation."

In the Private Sector category, the "Seashore Sustainability" initiative by the Seashore Group won the "Rawda Award," the "Ooredoo Doha Marathon" by Ooredoo Qatar won the "Shield of Mastery," and the "Rafeeq Al-Khair" initiative by Rafeeq (Rafeeq Al Darb for Trading, Services, and Transport) received a "Certificate of Appreciation."

Reflecting the scale of the institutional work preceding the results, the first edition saw the monitoring of 258 nominations for social initiatives through specialized experts and the award’s monitoring team. Of these, 174 nominations remained after the initial screening, representing a 67% retention rate.

The evaluation stages progressed through a clear professional path, starting with nominations from experts and relevant entities, followed by the initial screening, then the completion of initiative files and the collection of information and evidence. This was followed by a technical evaluation conducted by 25 evaluators distributed across categories, leading to the judging stage by five prominent figures, before final approval according to the adopted mechanisms.

This sequence reflects the award’s commitment to separating the stages of nomination, evaluation, judging, and final approval to ensure integrity, transparency, fairness, and independence in decision-making. This enhances community trust in the award as a neutral national platform for honoring genuine excellence in social work.

The award's reference materials confirm that the evaluation process is based on clear professional foundations starting from the approved nomination mechanism, with the Board of Trustees adopting evaluation standards and judging mechanisms that separate the various stages. This ceremony establishes the "Rawda" Award as a qualitative national project that does not limit social work to a moment of recognition, but rather roots a culture of sustainable initiatives, highlights inspiring models, and transforms winning experiences into national benchmarks that support the development of the social work system in the State of Qatar, in harmony with Qatari societal values and sustainable social development goals.