Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been named Cultural Personality of the Year by the trustees of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
The award honours people for their contribution to the advancement of Arab culture and encourages work towards tolerance and the promotion of peace. It will be awarded next month.
Here the board of trustees list why Sheikh Mohammed was honoured:
1. Putting together strategic plans to maintain the country’s sustainable development, consolidating justice and social welfare, and overseeing the process of change.
2. Establishing the “Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation,” which pioneered in several areas such as culture, entrepreneurship and employment, as well as knowledge and education. Under Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership, the Foundation aims to bridge the knowledge gap between the Arab region and the developed world, improve the standard of education and research, develop leadership programmes for youth, and stimulate job creation.
3.Launching numerous initiatives that reflect the ideal role model for youth, communicating with and inspiring their generation.
4.Protecting the rights of Arab women, especially Emirati women, and highlighting their role in culture and society.
5.Giving equal attention to all segments of society, with prime focus on children.
6.Sponsoring a number of projects that define the cultural identity of Emirati society, promoting the language, literature and culture of the Arab nation.
7.Launching the Government Summit, which represents a platform to showcase the most important tools, means and special strategies to enhance innovation in government departments. This is in line with Sheikh Mohammed’s directive naming 2015 as the year of Innovation.
8.Launching initiatives that reinforce the national identity of the UAE by encouraging the young to learn about their history and culture.
9.Sponsoring creative individuals and innovators, and promoting leaders through training and skills development programmes.
10.Establishing the International Humanitarian City for Humane Services as the world’s largest hub for humanitarian aid which underpins the UAE’s continuous efforts to help the victims of crises.