Arab prize winners declared

NEW YORK // An Egyptian professor and a Portuguese author are the winners of this year's Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture. Dr Gaber Asfour and his European laureate counterpart, Adalberto Alves, were chosen by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on Tuesday. Dr Asfour, who teaches at universities around the world and heads the Cairo-based National Centre for Translation, is celebrated as a global ambassador for Arab culture, according to Unesco.

"A champion of intercultural dialogue, he has promoted values such as women's rights, respect for others, creative diversity and tolerance," Unesco said. Mr Alves, a writer, poet and head of the Centre for Luso-Arab Studies in Silves, Portugal, is known for his research into Portugal's Muslim era. He helped create the Foundation of Arab Memory and is compiling a dictionary of Portuguese words of Arabic origin.

Each man will receive US$30,000 (Dh 110,000). The prize's international jury selects two winners each year, traditionally one from the Arab world and one from outside the region. The award was the brainchild of Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and chairman of the Sharjah Executive Council. [e-mail]