Dubai: Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, paid tribute to the founder of Al Owais Award, Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, describing the award as a "honorary model for citizens".
The remarks were made when Shaikh Abdullah received the Cultural and Scientific Achievement Award presented by the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation to Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union.
He added that the services rendered by Al Owais were not confined only to culture and arts, but extended to charity work in the UAE and abroad.
Shaikh Abdullah said cultural work in the Arab world is easier compared to political work, adding that political work needs more time and cumulative experience in this rapidly changing era.
Coming closer
He underscored that the Arab countries have come closer in the cultural dimension, unlike politics.
"Shaikha Fatima worked to empower women in a traditional society and under difficult circumstances," the award's board of trustees said in a statement read by board member Dr. Fatima Al Sayegh.
"While exerting efforts to educate Emirati and Arab women and children, giving extra care to those with special needs, Shaikha Fatima also shed the light on the issues of Arab women in general and managed to do so in a way that combines traditionalism and modernism," the statement said. Al Owais Foundation also published to celebrate the life of Shaikha Fatima titled Mother of the UAE.
The four other winners of the award were Yemeni poet Abdul Aziz Al Maqaleh for poetry, Algerian writer Al Taher Wattar for the short story, novel and drama prize, Tunisian critic Abdul Salam Al Masdi, the literary studies and criticism, and Egyptian writer Jalal Ameen for the humanitarian and futuristic studies.
Ameen expressed his happiness and pride at winning the award. "Although there are many cultural awards in the Arab nation, Al Owais Awards have a special respect because it is one of the most trusted, independent and subjective awards and aims to serve the Arab culture," Ameen said, speaking on behalf of the winners.
Enlivens hope
Another important reason behind the importance of Al Owais Award is that it brings Arabs from all over the Arab nation together.
"Despite the numerous factors that keep us apart, this award brings us together and enlivens hope in our spirits, and the group of people being honoured tonight stands evidence," Ameen said.
"A Yemeni poet, an Algerian writer, a Tunisian critic, and a great woman from the UAE, as well as an Egyptian researcher and writer are being honoured by Al Owais Foundation tonight. This brings us together as people of one nation who understand one another and share the same feelings," Ameen said.
Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, handed the prizes to the winners.
— With inputs from WAM
