Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Vision of Renascence

Arab Journalism Award 2015

Inspired by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision, Dubai Press Club launched the Arab Journalism Award to recognize and encourage journalistic excellence in Arabic media. On Wednesday, May 13, 2015, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has honored the winners of the 14th edition of the Arab Journalism Award, in a ceremony held at the conclusion of the 14th edition of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) at Madinat Jumeirah, Dubai.

In the first edition of the Arab Journalism Awards in 2001, late Sami Ahmed Al Munayes from Kuwait received the Media Personality of the Year Award. The following year, it was given to late Kamel Mohammed Al Zoheiry, the Egyptian writer and former head of the Arab Journalists Union. In 2003, it was awarded to the late Taryam Omran from the UAE and the late Mahmoud Al Sharif from Jordan. In 2005, the award went to Ragaa Al Nakash from Egypt, and the following year to Salah Al Din Hafez from Egypt. In 2006, Othman Al Omeir from Saudi Arabia was the recipient of the award, while in 2007 the award went to Makram Mohammed Ahmed from Egypt, head of the Journalist Union and secretary general of the Arab Journalists Union. In 2009, the Media Personalities of the Year award was given to Talal Salman, the founder and chief editor of the Lebanese As-Safir newspaper. The award in the ninth edition was to Dr. Abdullah Omran Taryam, CEO of UAE-based Dar Al Khalij Publishing House. This year’s winner of the 14th edition of the Arab Journalism Award are; Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim, Chairman of MBC Group.

Winners of the 14th edition of the Arab Journalism Award with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Other awards announced are: Best Newspaper Column Award: Khalid Al Kashtini, Ashrq Al Awsat Newspaper, Smart Journalism Award: Mohammed Al Hammadi, Editor-in Chief of Al Ittihad Newspaper, UAE, Investigative Reporting Award: AzzaMaghazi, Al-Shorouk Newspaper, Egypt, Political Journalism Award: Firas Al Kilani, Al Hayat newspaper, London, Economic Journalism Award: Waleed bin Hamad Al Mubarak, Chairman of Alyaumn Newspaper, Saudi Arabia, Humanitarian Journalism Award: Sana Boukhlies, Almaghrib Today Newspaper, Morocco, Sport Journalism Award: RouhiDarabeh and Mohammed Darbeh, Atlas Sport, Palestine, Cultural Journalism Award: Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, Al Arabi Magazine, Kuwait, Press Interviews Journalism Award: Mona Madkour, Al Watan Newspaper, Egypt, Specialized Journalism Award: Khorsheed Ahmed, Al Ittihad Newspaper, UAE, Photo Journalism Award: MajdiAshtiyeh, The Associated Press, Outstanding Cartoon Works Award: Yasser Al Ahmad, Makkah Newspaper, Saudi Arabia, Young Journalist Awards were divided among three winners; Nathalie Eklimos, Aljoumhouria Newspaper, Lebanon, Maryam Bouzachan, Al-Akhbar Newspaper, Morocco, and Rana Al Sharafi, Felesteen Newspaper, Palestine.

Since its inception in 1999 almost 250 Arab media personalities from all media specialties and from across the Arab countries have won this coveted industry recognition.

This year’s winner of the 14th edition of the Arab Journalism Award are; Sheikh Waleed Al Ibrahim, Chairman of MBC Group(left) with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

More than 500 senior journalists, writers, academics and specialists have also participated as judging committee members, and more than 35 eminent media persons from different intellectual backgrounds and professional experience have served on the board of directors for the awards. This year there were 5008 participants, from 34 countries (19 of them are Arab countries), mostly from Egypt (1552) and fewest from Somalia (10) a record started with 2000 participants in 2000.

Ashraf Aboul-Yazid, winner of the Cultural Journalism Award, receives the award trophy from Abdul-Elah Belqaziz, AJA board member.

Book of innovative and successful journalism works

Dubai Press Club, in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid School for Communication at the American university in Dubai, has announced publishing a book that gathers all the works that won the Arab Journalism Award over the past four editions.

The book will serve as a reliable reference for researchers, scholars and media students in the Arab World with the aim to provide samples of innovative and successful journalism works to Arab libraries. The Secretary General of AJA, represented by the Dubai Press Club, has documented the winning works that went through a strict arbitration and evaluation process by a highly qualified and experienced jury. Since its inception in 1999, the Arab Journalism Award has honored almost 250 journalists in various categories. The Secretary General limited the book to the wining works of the last four editions, which coincides with when AJA introduced the new digital entry and registration system in its tenth edition changing the procedures and categories.

Chairperson of Dubai Press Club Mona Ganem Al Merri

Dubai Press Club

The Dubai Press Club is a well-established center for journalist and media professionals to debate discuss and deliberate political, economic and social issues. Created under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Dubai Press Club has launched unique initiatives such as the annual Arab Media Outlook, an authoritative reference for journalist worldwide. The Dubai Press Clubs has been one of the most active press clubs in the world. It host and organizes workshops and seminars on issues impacting regional and international socio-political scenarios, and also on strategic communications. High-profile speakers and senior delegates are periodically invited by Dubai Press Club to interact with the local and regional media. As a founder member of the International Association of Press Club (IAPC), the Dubai Press Club serves as a thriving forum for the exchange of information, ideas and initiatives with members of press clubs worldwide.

Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) (formerly Organization of the Islamic Conference) , the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents, in his speech for the openning session of Arab Media Forum

Arab Media Forum

Arab Media Forum (AMF) was launched in 2001 as an annual flagship event of Dubai Press Club. In its successive editions, AMF attracted leading media experts from across the region and the world. Each year, the event hosts leading editors and directors of television and radio stations, columnists, academics, analysts, commentators, senior government officials, professors, academics, students, media and bloggers.
In addition to serving as a platform for the Arab media to engage in thought-provoking dialogue, the event opens channels for idea exchange between the Arab media and their counterparts around the world. With its prestigious stature, the Arab Media Forum is now a key platform that highlights the most critical issues of the Arab media. Hosted by Dubai, the regional media hub,it seeks to stimulate creativity and innovation, and raise awareness on the emirate’s culture and well-established social infrastructure.

The Man of all Awards

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of renascence has been expressed in types of foundations and forms of awards. Arab Media Forum, Dubai Press Club, and Arab Journalism Award are some of many establishments and activities raised and helped by H.H. , and there are many that carry his name and vision, as well.

I start with Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Established with an endowment of US$10 billion at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, held in Jordan in 2007, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation is an initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment is a public governmental establishment of corporate personality, aiming at providing the appropriate housing to the nationals of the emirate of Dubai.

Noor Dubai initiative was launched in September 2008 by His Highness with a vision of a world free from preventable forms of blindness. Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding is a non-profit organization established to increase awareness and understanding between the various cultures that live in Dubai. Operating under the banner of “Open Doors, Open Minds” the SMCCU strives to remove barriers between people of different nationalities and raise awareness of the local culture, customs and religion of the United Arab Emirates. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Manuscripts Preservation Project’s main objective is the preservation and publishing on line the ancient Islamic manuscripts collections at Al Azhar library in Egypt. The project will digitise Al Azhar library, which contains 42,000 manuscripts with 7,000,000 pages.

Dubai Cares is a philanthropic organization working to improve children’s access to quality primary education in developing countries. Mohammed bin Rashid Charity and Humanitarian Establishment, Launched in 1997, aims to promote charity and humanitarian works by helping underprivileged nationals and expatriates living in the UAE. Mohammed Bin Rashid Programme for Leadership Development (MBRPLD) is an innovative leadership program designed to develop future national leaders capable of promoting the sustainable development of the United Arab Emirates.

In the Opening session of Arab Media Forum 2015, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum with VIP invitees; Mr. Adly Mansour, ex-president of Egypt, Sheikh Salman Al-Homoud Al-Sabah, Kuwait minister of Mass Media and Youth, and Mr. Amro Mosa ex-general secretary of the Arab League.

Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development
The Mohammed bin Rashid Establishment for SME Development was set up to foster the development of entrepreneurialism, encourage and support UAE nationals to actively participate in the economic growth of Dubai, and facilitate the establishment of small & medium enterprises.

On the other side, there are awards launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, such as the Arab Social Media Award, 15th June 2014, to highlight the most important initiatives of social media in the Arab world through dedicating an annual award.

Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award aims to encourage exceptional contributions in serving the Arabic language & to honour its patrons. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for World Peace (June 7, 2011), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Patrons of the Arts Awards to honor individuals, businesses & govt entities that have donated financial & in-kind contributions towards the arts in Dubai, with sustained support & promotion of artistic activity .The Nation Brand Contest on designing the most distinctive, expressive, and suitable logo for the UAE nation brand via the Prime Minister Website. Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award (2007). Mohammed bin Rashid Government Excellence Award to recognize and reward exceptional government employees, departments and initiatives. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award to recognize and reward exceptional government employees, departments and initiatives. Dubai Government Excellence Programme to recognize and reward exceptional government employees, departments and initiatives. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Young Arab Leaders Award to recognize those who serve as role models and give inspiration to the region’s young people.Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Awardsto to recognize and reward firms that contribute to the UAE’s economic development. Dubai International Holy Quran Award.

The Zayed International Prize for the Environment(1999). Sheikh Rashid Award for Academic Excellence(1988). Dubai Quality Award was introduced in 1994 by the Department of Economic Development in Dubai. The Award was introduced as a means of improving the standards of businesses operating in Dubai.

Mohammed bin Rashid Award For Arab Management to recognize public and private sector organizations with the highest leadership and management standards in the Arab world. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Cambridge Awards , established in 2003, as a joint collaboration between Sheikh Mohammed and Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). The Ideal Arab Mother and Family Award, started as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival calendar in 2000. The theme of the Festival that year was “To Mother With Love”. The Ibda’a Media Student Awards, were launched by Dubai Media City in 2001, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed. Ibda’a means creativity in Arabic. The awards seek showcase the talents of UAE media students. Mohammed bin Rashid Awards for Young Business Leaders ,Launched in 2002, to recognize and exceptional entrepreneurs in the UAE.