Abu Dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Awards that honour distinguished residents will start receiving nominations from Sunday, according to organisers.
The awards, established in 2005 by General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, aim to encourage Emiratis and expatriates to reach out to the community and enhance the lives of fellow residents. The award is given to distinguished individuals nominated by members of the public.
This year, organisers have announced various changes. It will become a biennial event with two new nomination categories added. Nominations can be submitted shopping malls including Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Khalidiya Mall and Al Bawadi Mall, and people can sign up for iPad reminders by e-mail.
Organisers said people are also encouraged to submit nominations in Al Ain and the Western Region. Since its inauguration, more than 39,000 people have been nominated for the Abu Dhabi Award and more than 165,500 nominations have been submitted.
In 2009, 16,000 people representing 55 nationalities were nominated with 31,000 nominations cast.
"Winning the Award was an incredible, exciting and humbling experience..." said Dr Margit Muller, Director of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. The German expatriate, who has lived in the capital for ten years, received an award in 2008 for her discovery of a rare falcon parasite and how to treat it.
Information
If you want to nominate a deserving individual you can do so through the following avenues.
In any of the ten booths in Abu Dhabi Mall, Marina Mall, Khaldiyah Mall and Al Bawadi Mall. Through the 90 drop boxes located throughout the Emirate of Abu Dhabi or through the touring nomination bus
For more information visit www.abudhabiawards.ae or call 800-3331.