Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz was awarded the first Lech Walesa Prize for his contribution towards "inter-faith dialogue, tolerance, peace and international cooperation" as well as for his charity work.

The prize was received on behalf of King Abdullah by Prince Abdulaziz bin Abdullah at a ceremony in Gdansk on the 25th anniversary of Walesa receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

Besides the Walesa, prize committee includes former Czech president Vaclav Havel, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and former Polish foreign minister Wladyslaw Bartoszewski.