Shaikha Manal to be honoured Manal first Arab woman to be honoured by CITYarts

Dubai: CITYarts will honour one of the foremost patrons of art in the UAE, Shaikha Manal Bint Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, in recognition for her patronage and support of various artistic and cultural initiatives for women and the youth in the UAE.

Shaikha Manal, who is the first Arab to receive this recognition, will be honoured at a special ceremony held on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of CITYarts. The celebration will be held at CITYarts's annual benefit, auction, and awards ceremony on May 18 at Sotheby's in New York.

CITYarts will mark its 41st Anniversary of "Making a Difference Through the Arts" by celebrating a year of peace and honouring three extraordinary global women leaders, Shaikha Manal, Louise Bourgeois, internationally acclaimed artist; and Lisa Dennison, chairman of Sotheby's North and South America and previous director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.

By thinking globally and acting locally, CITYarts empowers children through collaborations with artists and the youth on projects that highlight social issues, encouraging them to become active participants in shaping their communities and futures. This year's three honourees exemplify CITYarts's mission to build bridges of understanding among youth from divergent cultures and backgrounds through participation in the arts.

Shaikha Manal has been involved in several initiatives in the UAE that reflect her continuous commitment to artistic and cultural development, such as The Shaikha Manal Young Artists Award and the Art Exchange Programme.