Abu Dhabi: The 11th Shaikh Zayed Book Awards awarded Dh7 million in prizes to eight winners, for their cultural contribution to society at a ceremony held at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair on Sunday.
Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, presented the winners with their awards in the presence of key intellectual and literacy guests.
Seven of the winners received Dh750,000 each, a gold medal and a certificate of merit with the exception of the winner for the Cultural Personality of the Year, who received Dh1 million.
The Moroccan historian and scholar, Abdellah Laroui, 2017 Cultural Personality of the Year, was praised for influencing the Arab political thinking as well as cultural and literacy practices with his valuable contribution to academic institutes and scientific bodies.
Laroui said the award was very important as it was the way to build bridges between cultures.
