UAE Pioneers 2016 awardees list

List of awarded pioneers

1 – Abdul Hamid Ahmad – First President of Emirates Writers Union

2 – Habib Al Sayegh – First Emirati elected as Secretary General of Arab Writers Union

3 – Sultan Al Owais (deceased) – First Emirati to establish novel award in art and intellect in 1987

4 – Dubai Public Library – First public library founded in 1963

5 – Hafsa Surour – 6-year-old, youngest writer

6 – Abu Dhabi International Book Fair – First book fair in the UAE

7 – Maitha Al Mosaferi – Best mum supporting reading initiatives, by setting up workshops and activities

8 – Ministry of Interior – Best federal entity encouraging reading among its social responsibilities – Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed was honoured

9 – Sharjah International Book Fair – Biggest book fair across the Arab region

10 – Salama Secondary School – Best public school encouraging reading among students

11 – Ayoub Yousuf – Best personality and social media influencer encouraging people to read

12 – Fujairah Natural Resources Organisation – Best local entity encouraging reading in Fujairah

13 – UAE University – Best educational library encouraging reading among students

14 – Sharjah TV – Best content promoting reading among all society

15 – Dr Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi - Director General of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR)

16 – Etisalat – Best private entity initiative for encouraging children to read

17 – Sama TV – Best TV channel promoting and encouraging reading

18 – Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) – Best national initiative encouraging reading

19 – Asma Al Motawae – Best individual initiative encouraging reading

20 – Dubai Water and Electricity Authority – Best national initiative encouraging reading among its social responsibilities

21 – Knowledge Without Borders – Best national initiative encouraging reading in Sharjah

22 – Economic Development Directorate – Best national entity encouraging reading in Ras Al Khaimah

23 – Ministry of Education – Best federal initiative encouraging students to read

24 – Al Khaleej Newspaper – Best print media promoting reading initiatives

25 – Emirates Airline and Google – Best initiative for private sector in encouraging reading

26 – Telecommunications Regulatory Authority – Best federal entity encouraging reading among its employees

27 – Scientific Research School in Dubai – Best private school encouraging reading

28 – Abu Dhabi TV – TV Show ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ – Best show encouraging reading

29 – The UAE Board on Books for Young People – Best NGO encouraging reading among youth

30 – Australian International School in Sharjah – Best private school that has rich books in library encouraging reading among its students

31 – Emirates Literature Foundation – Best NGO promoting reading initiatives

32 – Saif Gobash – ‘Kalima Project’ – Best institution supporting publishing children books

33 – Shaika Ahmad Mohammad Abdul Rahman – Best teacher encouraging reading among students

34 – Al Emarat Al Youm newspaper – Best print media encouraging reading among children

35 – Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development – Best federal entity on encouraging reading initiatives (Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak honoured)

36 – Ali Abu Al Reesh – One of the most prominent Emirati novelists and writers (among top 100 Arab writers)

37 – Heritage and Artefacts Directorate – Best national initiative encouraging reading in Umm Al Quwain

38 – Al Ittihad Newspaper – Best print media supporting strategic initiatives

39 – Road and Transport Authority – Best national entity encouraging reading in Dubai

40 – Dr Hamad Al Hammadi – Emirati writer and novelist – his novel ‘Ritaj’ was featured as a TV drama series called ‘Kheyanet Watan’ aired in Ramadan 2016 on Abu Dhabi TV

41 – Ministry of Health – Best federal entity encouraging reading at early age among children

42 – Al Bayan Newspaper – Best print media covering reading initiatives

43 – Zayed University – Best educational initiative encouraging reading

44 – Ajman Real Estate Regulatory – Best national entity encouraging reading

45 – Safia Al Shehi – Best Media Personality – Presenter of ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ TV Show, aired on Abu Dhabi TV