The Afro-Asian Union (AFASU) held its International Golden Awards 2026/2027 ceremony on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the Concorde El Salam Hotel, Heliopolis, Cairo, under the theme “Honoring Influential Leaders and Creative Pioneers in Tourism and Arab Media.” The event drew public figures, media leaders, and tourism professionals from across the Arab world and beyond.
AFASU President Dr. Hossam Darwish said the awards reflect the Union’s appreciation for journalists, content creators, and digital influencers who promote Arab tourism and showcase cultural destinations. He called modern media one of the most powerful tools for development, marketing, and shaping the international image of nations, and confirmed AFASU’s commitment to recognising those who create positive impact through journalism, television, and social platforms.
Secretary-General Major General Ashraf Abu Eish said the ceremony embodies the Union’s vision of celebrating achievers who advance tourism and Arab media while strengthening travel culture and dialogue among nations.
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Prof. Hazem Attia Allah and H.E. Dr. Ghada Shalaby, Egypt’s former Minister of Tourism.
Addressing the audience, H.E. Alain St. Ange — Seychelles Ambassador-at-Large, internationally renowned tourism expert, AFASU Board Member, and President of the International Awards Sector — placed the press at the heart of the evening.
“The three traditional pillars of democracy — the Executive, the Judiciary, and the Legislative — have accepted the Press as the needed fourth pillar,” he said. “But this recognition comes with responsibility. You are all the mouthpiece of countries needing their tourism industry’s unique selling point to reach the key tourism source markets.”
St. Ange spoke about Seychelles and its distinctive tourism offering, and praised Egypt for its authentic and unmatched selling points, underlining the role of media in carrying these stories to the world.
AFASU honored the following media professionals, journalists, influencers, and content creators:
Ahmed Ezz
Ayman Adly
Eman Sharif (Bahrain)
Rana Al Rees (UAE)
Saeed Gamal El Din, Journalist and Media Professional
Sherine Farouk
Dr. Saleh Al Makhdoum
Adel Al Alfi
Kefaya Abu Diya (Qatar)
Mohamed El Eskandarani
Mohamed El Shamy
Mohamed Sheraby
Mahmoud Al Jishi
Naseh Al Kadi (Morocco)
Nermine Abdel Moaty
Rana Al Nasser (Lebanon)
Doaa Al Ajmi, Influencer
Recognition of Media Institutions
Al Rehla Tourism Newspaper — led by Mr. Mahmoud Al Jishi, recognised as a leading Arab tourism media platform for its pioneering role in supporting Arab tourism media.
Hala Podcast — co-founded by media personality Ahmed Ezz, one of the fastest-growing Arab media platforms, reaching tens of millions of followers and billions of views across digital channels.
The AFASU International Golden Awards stand as a message of appreciation to every journalist, writer, media professional, and influencer building bridges between nations and supporting sustainable development through responsible media and positive influence.
