On Saturday, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the 2020 UAE Pioneers Award on Twitter. He said that this year the award would honor exceptional individuals, institutions, and initiatives for their contribution made towards taking care of the society in the trying times of COVID-19 pandemic. Dubai ruler urged UAE people to nominate anyone who according to them played a commendable role in combating the coronavirus pandemic by using the hashtag #UAE_Pioneers.

"Brothers and sister, we have instructed that the UAE Pioneers Award this year honor exceptional individuals, institutions and initiatives that contributed to making the UAE a model in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic," Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter.

"The nominations should be made using the hashtag #UAE_Pioneers. Everyone will honor each other," he said.

The UAE Pioneers Award was first launched in 2014 though Sheikh Mohammed’s social media campaign aimed at celebrating UAE residents who are known for their humanitarian initiatives or great work towards society. The award nominations have always been made based on popular opinion through a hashtag campaign, wherein Emirates nominate their fellow countrymen based on their endeavors.