ABU DHABI // Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed, the Ruler of Sharjah, has been named the Cultural Personality of the Year 2010 by the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. Dr Sheikh Sultan claimed the first of eight prize categories of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for his efforts in promoting Arabic culture and literature, Rashed al Oraimi, secretary general of the award, told WAM, the government news agency.
Dr Sheikh Sultan will receive a gold medal bearing the Sheikh Zayed Book Award logo, a certificate of merit and an undisclosed amount of cash from the award's Dh7 million (US$1.9 million) prize fund. Dr Sheikh Sultan has been the ruler of Sharjah since the early 1970s and has established several institutions supporting the conservation of cultural heritage. He has written several books, including an autobiography published recently and The Myth of Arab Piracy in the Gulf, published in 1986.
In addition to the personality-of-the-year prize, the award will recognize eight other people this year in categories including children's literature, young author, translation and best technology in the field of culture. @Email:newsdesk@thenational.ae
