Dubai: Telecom operator du on Tuesday awarded winners of the second Social Media Awards and the Operetta by the UAE People as part of 42nd National Day initiative.
The event, held at Dubai Men’s College, was attended by dignitaries, celebrities, and members of the community, including more than 700 students from both Dubai Men’s College and Dubai Women’s College.
Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, awarded the winners.
“Today, we are celebrating something very dear to all our hearts. We have always been, and will always be proud Emiratis, continuing the journey to greatness that they began for us, and that our leaders today continue to steer us towards,” said Ahmad Bin Byat, Chairman of du.
He said the National Day initiatives highlight the pride and creativity of our young people, who are ambitious, innovative, and unafraid of taking the initiative and forward-thinking.
During his speech, Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security, said: “The wise policies adopted by our leadership have made us the happiest people on Earth, as per the United Nations’ criteria. This was only possible through the powerful unity of our leadership and the people of the UAE.
“On this national occasion, I salute all young people who use social media for the benefit of connecting the society. Social media has become a vital channel for communication. We urge the youth of the nation, particularly students at university and college, to use social media responsibly and for the benefit of the community,” he said.
Also revealed during the event was the Operetta by the UAE People, a collaborative song created and sung by the Emirati community and performed by du’s competition winners, Khalifa Al Shehi, Hessa and Ali Al Ketheri. They performed the song at the Forum, alongside Mohammad Al Mazroui, Shamma Hamdan and Faysal Al Jasem.
The Operetta by the UAE People was written by UAE poets Saud Al Kabi, Rashid Bin Ghalita, Saeed Al Katbi, Khalifa Bin Musbih Al Kabi, Saeed Bin Tmeshan, and Hamdan Al Mahrami, with music composed by Jasem and Mohammad Al Ahmad.
