Streets on Reem and Al Maryah named after prominent Emiratis

Two main streets on Al Reem and Al Maryah islands have officially been named after two Emirati men who contributed to the UAE’s development, under Sheikh Zayed.

Saeed Al Ghafli, fifth from right, chairman of the Department of Municipality Affairs, greets Khalid Abdullah Omran after Inaugurating the street on Al Reem Island in Abu Dhabi to honour his father Abdullah Omran Taryam. Ravindranath K / The NationalShow less

ABU DHABI // Two main streets on Reem Island and Al Maryah Island have been named after two Emirati men who contributed to the UAE’s development under Sheikh Zayed.

Abdullah Omran Taryam, former chairman of the board of Al Khaleej Publishing and Printing, and Hamouda Ali Al Dhaheri, an adviser to the founding father, were honoured. New signposts with their names were unveiled on both streets on Tuesday.

Saeed Al Ghafli, chairman of the Department of Municipal Affairs (DMA), said: “Honouring these two persons shows the keenness of our Government to reward citizens who contributed in different social, economic and security fields, and devoted their work and services for the nation-building process.

“This honour is meant to commemorate them; a practice that is not new to our Government, which developed the practice of rewarding its loyal servants who delivered their responsibilities in the interests of serving the nation and citizens,” Mr Al Ghafli said.

Under the DMA's ongoing Onwani (My address) project, it named two streets after them to recognise their prominent roles and devotion to the country.

Hamouda bin Ali Al Dhaheri Street is on Al Maryah Island, while Abdullah Omran Taryam Street is on Reem Island.

Their sons, along with top municipal officials, were at the unveiling of the street signposts.

Ali Al Dhaheri, son of Hamouda, thanked the Government, sheikhs and the ruling family of the emirate.

“My father was the Interior Minister in Sheikh Zayed’s time and was very much involved in the foundation and unification of the United Arab Emirates,” Mr Al Dhaheri said.

Musabbah Mubarak Al Murar, acting general manager of Abu Dhabi Municipality, said: “The decoration of citizens by commemorating their names is a true expression of these patriotic values and a tribute of respect and appreciation of citizens who have left indelible marks in the development drive and urbanisation of the UAE.”

Taryam’s son, Khaled Abdullah Omran, was present at the ceremony.

Taryam, who died in January last year, also shaped and steered Al Khaleej, a local Arabic daily newspaper, where he became chairman of the board after the death of his brother in 2002.

Taryam was a co-founder of Al Khaleej in 1970, which resumed publishing in 1980 and then developed into a publishing house that publishes six daily, weekly and monthly publications.

■ Read about the honoured men's accomplishments here: Honour for eminent Emiratis