DUBAI // A humanitarian aid conference chief has become the first Emirati to receive a Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean personality of the year award.
Dr Abdul Al Madani, the executive director of Dubai International Humanitarian Aid and Development Conference and Exhibition, received the PAM award for 2015 for his work in the humanitarian and development sectors over the past decade, for his contribution to the field through the events he organises and for his efforts to reduce the prevalence of smoking.
After receiving the award, which was granted for the first time to a person from outside the PAM committee member countries, Dr Al Madani said the Dubai humanitarian aid conference had developed rapidly in the last 10 years. “I am very delighted,” he said. “I am also proud of this award and recognition and I would like to dedicate the PAM award to Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
“We are sons of Zayed and we follow his steps and we also follow the vision of the UAE, which focuses on humanitarian development and encourages cooperation between the private and public sectors.”
The assembly has also granted the DIHAD conference and exhibition an annual seat at the PAM meeting, as an observer.
PAM is a forum where the parliaments of the Mediterranean region meet to reach common objectives towards the creation of the best political, social, economic and cultural environment and conditions for citizens of its member states.
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