London:Badr Jafar, Special Envoy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Business and Philanthropy, has been honored with the 2026 Spear's Impact Award at a distinguished ceremony held in London.
According to Wam, Badr Jafar emphasized the significant scale of philanthropic efforts across the UAE, highlighting that over AED11 billion has been raised through Ramadan campaigns in the past three years to support initiatives in food security, healthcare, education, and orphan care.
In his acceptance speech, Jafar spoke on the UAE's emerging role in global philanthropy, describing it as a hub for strategic giving. He noted that while generosity has always been present, the advancements in data, platforms, and partnerships have expanded its reach. He emphasized that philanthropy should be approached with the same rigor applied to other forms of capital, focusing on evidence, patience, and partnerships.
The Spear's Impact Award, bestowed annually during the Spear's Awards in London, honors individuals whose work has made a lasting impact beyond their own fields. Previous awardees include notable figures such as Sir Richard Branson and Dame Stephanie Shirley. Badr Jafar is the first recipient from the Arab world.
The event, led by Spear's Editor-in-Chief Edwin Smith, saw the attendance of 400 senior figures from the UK's private-wealth, legal, and philanthropic sectors, including Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the United Kingdom. Spear's acknowledged Jafar's two-decade-long effort to foster strategic, accountable, and connected philanthropy.
Jafar's achievements include founding the Pearl Initiative in 2010 to promote regional transparency and governance, establishing the Centre for Strategic Philanthropy at the University of Cambridge in 2020, and launching HasanaH, a digital giving platform. His book, "The Business of Philanthropy," published in 2024, donates all royalties to the International Rescue Committee for children affected by conflict.
Since his appointment as Special Envoy by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2024, Jafar has worked to align business and philanthropic efforts with the UAE's development and diplomatic goals, expanding cooperation domestically and internationally. He has traveled to over 20 countries, fostering collaboration between business leaders and philanthropists globally.