UAE wins big at Singapore's annual international stamp exhibition

Former FNC speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr was one of the big winners of Singpex 2019, for his exhibit on the postal history of Muscat

Former FNC speaker Mohammed Al Murr has won big at an international stamp collection exhibit. Ravindranath K / The National 

Congratulations have been heaped on UAE author Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, after he won gold at Singpex 2019, the annual Asian International Stamp Exhibition.

In its 36th year, Singpex invites the best stamp collections from 26 countries across Asia and Australasia to exhibit at the event between July 31 and August 4. This year it commemorated the Singapore bicentennial and marked 100 years of Singapore Airmail.

The Emirates Philatelic Association, EPA, won several awards at the event. Most notably was Al Murr's gold medal for his exhibit, The Cancellations and Postal History of Muscat 1830-1948, which also led to his nomination as a Grand Prix International candidate for the event's main award.

The UAE's Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, Noura Al Kaabi, led the congratulations on social media, praising Al Murr for the accolades.

Al Murr is also an author, and has published more than 15 volumes of short stories. Two collections have been translated into English: Dubai Tales and The Wink of the Mona Lisa.

He has also held many positions as a member of a number of UAE academic institutions and councils. He served as the Federal National Council's speaker from 2011 to 2015. Al Murr is also a prominent patron of the arts, serving as chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library, leading the Dubai Cultural Council before the establishment of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, and is an avid art collector.

UAE resident Ahmad bin Eisa Alserkal, chairman of the Alserkal Group, also won at Singpex 2019, taking home a gold medal for his exhibit, Abu Dhabi Stamps 1963-1973, and a prize for another exhibit entitled Postal History Study of Airmail from Iraq 1919-1945.

Saeed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi won a medal for his exhibit, UAE Stamps, while Nasser Bin Ahmad Alserkal won a medal for his exhibit, Dubai Stamps. Osman Mutaz earned a silver medal for his literature exhibit, Postal History of the UAE, and in the youth class exhibits, Adithya Sarma won a bronze medal for his exhibit, Conserve Wildlife.

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