Writers, officials laud Mohammad’s win

Abu Dhabi: Prominent figures in the UAE’s literary and media scene have expressed happiness at the naming of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, as the Cultural Personality of the Year.

The award was given to Shaikh Mohammad by the Shaikh Zayed Book Award for his major role in steering the UAE towards cultural development and humanitarian progress, among an array of other accomplishments.

“Shaikh Mohammad has earned every bit of this award because we are lucky enough to not only have leaders that set up the best approaches but governments that are capable of putting together programmes that carry out those approaches and obtain the best results,” said Habib Al Sayegh, president of the Emirates Writers’ Union.

“Under the leadership of Shaikh Mohammad, we have schemes that focus on the future and ways of progression and development without abandoning our national identity. His Highness is also a poet, a writer and a media executive, making him give cultural aspects priority in his plans. Only countries that place culture as a priority are those that succeed,” he added.

Al Sayegh also noted that the UAE aims to be one of the best governments in the world by 2021, and is pursuing space exploration with a probe to Mars in 2021, as well as hosting the Expo 2020 in Dubai. Referring to the rock-like strength possessed by people in the UAE, he said, “Shaikh Mohammad is a prime example of such strong and capable individuals.”

Prominent Emirati writer, poet and journalist Ali Abul Reesh, said: “Shaikh Mohammad is a charismatic personality full of transformative powers. He is not merely an Emirati leader but a key representative of humanitarian work worldwide. We are proud of him for his achievements and his special personality.”

Amal Al Daiban, who works as a researcher at the Zayed National Museum, said that she finds inspiration in Shaikh Mohammad and that he is capable of motivating people through the sheer passion and hard work he demonstrates when working on creative projects for the country. “He provides a perfect example of a good Arab leader and portrays a positive image of Arabs across the world,” she added.