Finalists of the Regional Stage of the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" are announced in Arab World
The outcomes of the regional stage of the V International Contest "Leader of Public Diplomacy" were summed up in the Arab world in July 2026. The regional jury selected 10 community leaders who will represent the Arab world at the international stage of the competition.
The winners are distributed across key nominations reflecting different areas of people's diplomacy — from cultural heritage preservation and scientific research to peacebuilding and educational initiatives.
Cultural Diplomacy
In the "Cultural Diplomacy" nomination, four leaders advanced to the international stage:
Abd al-Hussein Shaaban (Iraq) — thinker, academic, human rights defender, author of over 80 books. He has dedicated his work to researching civil society, international law, and the philosophy of nonviolence.
Issam Hijjawi (Jordan) — Chairman of the Jordanian Producers Union, founder of one of the leading production companies in the Middle East. For over 30 years, he has been developing cinematic projects dedicated to preserving Arab and Bedouin heritage.
Suhad Talabani (Iraq, Kurdistan) — President of the Strategic Development Organization (SDO), founder of the Kurdish Culture Preservation Foundation. For more than 20 years, she has been building bridges between communities divided by ethnic and religious conflicts.
Abdeslam Bouthayeb (Morocco) — expert in transitional justice and memory politics, founder of the Center for Shared Memory for Democracy and Peace and the International Shared Memory Film Festival. In 2026, he was awarded the Spanish Ibn Rushd Prize for his contribution to democracy, freedom of thought, and intellectual independence in the Islamic world.
Volunteering and Peacebuilding
In the "Volunteering and Peacebuilding" nomination, the Arab World will be represented at the international contest by four leaders:
Zaid Al-Ayoub (Jordan) — physician, clinical coordinator of the non-governmental organization for Family and Child Protection Services (FCPS). Under his leadership, large-scale humanitarian projects are being implemented, including the "Makani" program for protecting vulnerable families. The expert promotes educational diplomacy and helps Jordanian youth gain access to education at Russian universities.
Najlaa Youssef Hammad (Jordan) — Executive Director, General Coordinator of the "Arab Peace Group," expert with 20 years of experience in the international NGO sector, providing institutional support for peacebuilding initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Atef Mohamed El-Maghawri (Egypt) — Deputy Chairman of the National Progressive Unionist Party (Tagammu), head of the parliamentary bloc in the Egyptian House of Representatives, co-founder of the "Arab Peace Group." He works to strengthen stability in the region, protect social rights of the population, and develop inter-Arab dialogue.
Mohamed Hussein Al-Hussein (Syria) — media communications expert, "Global Peace Ambassador," President of the National Reform Party, head of the Center for Strategic Studies and Reforms. He is engaged in developing dialogue, exchanging cultural values, and strengthening ties between the Arab and Eurasian spaces.
Educational Diplomacy
The leader in the regional stage in the "Educational Diplomacy" nomination is Kulthum Abdalla Salem (UAE) — Head of the Mental Health Department at the UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention, writer and journalist. She works on the well-being of the younger generation and the formation of a sustainable educational environment.
Scientific Diplomacy
In the "Scientific Diplomacy" nomination, the winner is Nasser Zeidan (Lebanon) — Professor of Political Science, International Relations, and Public International Law at Lebanese University, author of numerous books, research studies, and over 2,000 articles dedicated to the Middle East and the region's geopolitics.
These ten leaders represent a wide range of public diplomacy fields in the Arab world — from science and culture to humanitarian missions and education. Their activities help strengthen mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation between peoples.
For additional information, please visit the official website of the World Peoples Assembly or contact us at media@world-assembly.org.
