Dubai: Following the public call to nominate Emiratis who were the first in their field, Gulf News spoke to eminent Emirati personality Bilal Budoor, Vice-President of the Cultural and Scientific Association, who shared his list of nominees.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took to Twitter on Friday to call on UAE residents to nominate 43 UAE pioneers from different fields, such as the first UAE coach, pilot, or other professions where they have been the first to achieve their goals.
Shaikh Mohammad said the winners will be honoured at a ceremony at the 43rd National Day celebrations.
“Shaikh Mohammad’s initiative is great, making the country aware of the pioneers and honouring them will make the country’s children strive for excellence. By showing that the country holds such pioneers in high regard, the young generation will aim for excellence. It also shows that excellence has no boundaries,” said Al Budoor.
To learn more about some of the Emirati pioneers that could be nominated, Gulf News spoke to Al Budoor who put forward his list of pioneers.
When asked who he thinks are among the country’s pioneers, Al Budoor suggested the following:
“I think Dr Najeeb Al Khaja, First Emirati heart surgeon, is a good candidate. There is also Dr Aisha Al Sayar, the first Emirati women to get a PhD, Eid Al Faraj, the first Emirati composer, and Dr Rafia Al Gobash, the first president of a regional university, the Arabian Gulf University in Bahrain.”
Al Budoor also suggested the first author of a novel, Rashid Abdullah, who is the former Foreign Minister of the UAE, first story writer Abdullah Saqr Al Merri and Saeed Ahmad Saeed, the first Emirati to become an international chess master.
Al Budoor said the initiative is important as it will raise awareness among Emirati youth about their history and their country’s pioneers.
