Morocco and UAE receive inaugural America 250 award in US Senate
Morocco and the United Arab Emirates became the first countries to receive the America 250 Founders’ Promise Award, a distinction created as part of the United States’ 250th independence anniversary celebrations. The award was presented during an official session at the US Senate in Washington, recognizing the two nations for their contributions to religious freedom, equal citizenship, human dignity, minority rights, and peaceful coexistence.
The announcement was made at the conclusion of the America 250: Building on the Legacy and Promise of Religious Freedom Forum. The two-day event, organized by the IRF Peace Builders Forum on July 16 and 17, brought together members of Congress, State Department officials, diplomats, religious leaders, policymakers, and international experts. The opening session was held at the Museum of the Bible, while the closing ceremony took place at the Senate.
According to the organizing committee, Morocco was selected for its longstanding relationship with the United States and its efforts to promote religious moderation, citizenship values, and cultural and religious diversity. The committee highlighted the kingdom’s historic role as the first nation to recognize American independence.
That relationship dates back to December 1777, when Sultan Mohammed III opened Moroccan ports to American vessels during the Revolutionary War. The partnership was later formalized through the Treaty of Peace and Friendship, negotiated in Marrakech in 1786 and signed by John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Ratified by Congress in 1787, it remains the longest continuously maintained bilateral treaty in US history.
The United Arab Emirates received the award for advancing tolerance, coexistence, and interfaith dialogue through national policies, institutions, and international initiatives. Organizers also praised the country’s role in humanitarian diplomacy and efforts to strengthen cooperation and understanding among different communities.
The forum featured speeches from Senator Jim Lankford, Senator Jim Risch, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Riley Barnes, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Lord Rals Rock of the British House of Lords also participated in the discussions.
Ambassador Sheikh Al-Mahfoudh bin Bayyah, Secretary General of the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace, highlighted initiatives aimed at protecting religious minorities and promoting equal citizenship. He described Morocco and the UAE as examples of countries working to strengthen peace and coexistence through institutional action.
Bin Bayyah also pointed to the 2016 Marrakech Declaration, a joint initiative of Morocco’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and the Abu Dhabi Forum for Peace. Endorsed by more than 250 Muslim religious leaders from over 120 countries, the declaration advocates the protection of minority rights in Muslim-majority societies and draws inspiration from the Charter of Medina.
The declaration was later adopted by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation during its summit in Istanbul. Bin Bayyah said it represents a modern institutional revival of principles centered on citizenship, religious pluralism, and peaceful coexistence.
