Since ancient times, an Archipelago of pearly islands has emerged, forming a cohesive mosaic of love and harmony. With multi-civilisation successions for centuries, The Kingdom of Bahrain blossomed into a universal hub of pearl fisheries and commodities commerce, leading the way in writing history as the land of peace, love and kindness.

Dilmun, Aradus, Tylos, and Awal, some of the names of ancient Bahrain, reflecting one meaning for this Island of Eternity: good deeds and embracing otherness regardless of religion, doctrine, or ethnicity. Simply, a Utopian Sanctuary rich with diverse and welcoming cultures.

Throughout its 5000 years of glorious history, The Kingdom of Bahrain has performed an epic story of religious freedom and peaceful coexistence, flourishing into a welcoming oasis of noble humane principles among the Adherents of the Abrahamic Religions and many other Faiths.

Thanks to its central position at the heart of main waterways and trade canals, Bahrain has been a holistic incubator of all sects and ethnicities, adopting the utmost friendly hospitality and noblest human practices, based on mutual respect for all, where Muslim, Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Bahai, Buddhists and other merchants trade and worship freely without discrimination or distinction.  

In the mid19th century, Bahrain has arisen as an enlightened Capital of cultural diversity and religious freedom, founded by the Al Khalifa Dynasty, reaching its apogee during the prosperous reign of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of The Kingdom of Bahrain, with impressive achievements in embracing religious freedom and adopting peaceful coexistence as the foundation for a modern, prosperous, harmonious, and dynamic Nation. 

The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration, officially launched in Los Angeles in 2017, mirrors King Hamad’s peaceful approach towards a more coherent and harmonious world devoid of conflicts and wars. 

The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration works as an International Charter to guide various countries and regions in finding the right path to peace and stability and to spread the noble values of religious freedom, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect.

The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration has been lauded, adopted, and quoted by world leaders including Dr. Ahmed Al Tayeeb, Grand Imam of Al Azhar, and His Holiness Pope Francis during The Pope’s historic Apostolic visit to Bahrain in November 2022, and today it remains the Foundational Document for all the work and Educational Programmes of The King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence. 

His Majesty The King has championed his peaceful accomplishments through many bold and courageous approaches, notably, the Kingdom’s signing of The Abraham Accords supporting a strong bilateral relationship between Bahrain and Israel, as a historic step on the road to genuine and lasting peace, security, and prosperity across the region, seeing Bahrain rise again as the regional homeland of peace and interfaith dialogue.

The Bahraini Model of peaceful coexistence has become the guiding light for many countries regionally and globally as they embrace and expand that most fundamental of human rights – religious freedom. This in turn has led them to follow the 5000 years old Bahraini path of peaceful coexistence, kindness, and greater respect and understanding of the other as a means to combat the ignorance and fear that leads to extremism, violence, sectarian divisions, and conflict. 

The King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence is one of the fruits of the insightful vision of His Majesty The King. Since its inception in early 2018, the Centre has been keen to represent the Kingdom of Bahrain and the noble leadership philosophy of His Majesty The King, based on the traditional Bahraini values of peaceful coexistence and kindness. 

The King Hamad Global Centre and ‘This Is Bahrain”, have launched many unique initiatives, namely ‘The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration’, ‘The King Hamad Chair in Inter-Faith Dialogue and Peaceful Coexistence at La Sapienza University in Rome’, ‘The King Hamad Faith in Leadership Fellows Programme’ in conjunction with Oxford and Cambridge Universities in England, ‘The Cyber Peace Academy’, and many other related programs and initiatives that aim to foster a genuine culture of peaceful coexistence among young people and implant the noblest human values in the minds of the newer generations, empowering them to create a more peaceful, just and harmonious future for all.

During the last few years, the King Hamad Global Centre and ‘This Is Bahrain” have taken tremendous strides by visiting several Continents, spreading King Hamad’s enlightened vision, through International Conferences, Symposia and Inter-Faith Dialogues, asserting that religious freedom and peaceful coexistence are invaluable tools for transforming conflicts into peace and replacing ignorance and fear of the other with love and understanding.     

The King Hamad Global Centre for Peaceful Coexistence and ‘This Is Bahrain” are proud to launch ‘The King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence,’ an International Award to honour unique endeavors and projects that serve King Hamad’s universal vision in religious freedom, peaceful coexistence, and mutual respect.

The King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence will be awarded to an Individual or an Organisation that has embraced His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s vision of Religious Freedom for all, as outlined in ‘The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration’ and has made outstanding and sustainable contributions in furthering Global Peaceful Coexistence as inspired by the ‘The Kingdom of Bahrain Declaration’.

A Jury, comprised of an International Panel of Experts, will receive Nominations which will then be shortlisted.  Shortlisted nominees will then be assessed based on further submissions, attestations, and interviews.

The King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence will be awarded Annually by His Majesty, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who will personally bestow The King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence upon the recipient at a Special Award Ceremony in The Kingdom of Bahrain.

The King Hamad Award for Peaceful Coexistence will consist of a unique Gold Medal and prize package to further support the endeavors of the Awardee.

Nominees from all walks of life, all faiths, cultures, and ethnicities are welcomed as this is a perfect reflection of The Kingdom of Bahrain’s multi-cultural, multi-faith society that today lives peacefully and harmoniously in the spirit of mutual respect and love, as they have for Millenia, truly, ‘This Is Bahrain”. 

ENDS