Forty-six Emirati philanthropists are honoured in the UAE Pioneers Award. Follow our live coverage

 

Day of pride for 46

Forty-six Emirati philanthropists were feted in the UAE Pioneers Award held in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

Here they are with their families as the ceremony comes to a close:


Sharjah honoured

Sharjah receives honour for humanitarian services.

Al Fahim gets medal for Dh360m endowment

Abdul Jalil Al Fahim receives medal for making a Dh360 million endowment for health centre in Fujairah.

20 from Al Junaibi family honoured for charity drive

Sumaiya Al Jenaibi's family was honoured today at the #UAEPioneers ceremony, for the charity work they have done across the UAE.

It's a family affair, 20 members of the Al Junaibi family honoured for setting up the good companion team, a charity initiative.

82-year-old volunteer honoured

Fatima Ali Ibrahim, 82, is honoured for being the UAE's most senior volunteer.


Sharjah Ruler's wife given award

Shaikha Jawaher Bint Mohammad Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, receives an award for her humanitarian initiatives. 

Al Nuaimi honoured 

Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid and Mohammad Bin Zayed honor Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi for his initiatives and charitable works.

Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation awarded

Khalifa Bin Zayed Foundation receives award and accepted by Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

46 philanthropists honoured

Forty-six Emirati philanthropists lead by His Highness Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces were feted by UAE Pioneers Award in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday to reflect the nation's humanitarian approach since its establishment.

His Highness Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai decorated the leading philanthropists with medals of honour, to mark the 46th National Day at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi. His Highness Shaikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman also attended the ceremony held at St Regis hotel in Saadiyat Island in the capital.

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Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed arrive at ceremony

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, arrive at the ceremony.

The UAE Pioneers Award 2017 will fete 46 Emirati selfless philanthropists at a ceremony on Tuesday, to reflect the UAE’s humanitarian approach since its establishment.


Shaikh Mohammad will honour the leading philanthropists to mark the 46th anniversary of the UAE’s National Day by decorating them with medals of honour, the organisers said.


The achievements of those honoured will be documented in the Cabinet and their biographies and winning initiatives will be written down in a special book, which will be published later.

It is the fourth time Shaikh Mohammad has used the occasion to honour Emirati pioneers. Last year, literary men and cultural entities were honoured to mark the Year of Reading.

Shaikh Mohammad launched the initiative in 2014, saying: “We are a nation that loves the first place, and appreciates those who work to achieve the first place,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

Shaikh Mohammad added that the country should fete its pioneers in all fields, including social and scientific fields, or sports or even people who were pioneers in their areas of professional expertise.

Shaikh Mohammad said that people who are the first or top achievers in their fields are role models to everyone, and to honour them is a tribute to the UAE people’s passion for being in the first place.

“Throughout the history of our development march, the UAE has recognised sons and daughters who have never accepted any substitute for the number one position. We want history to remember them and let the future generations know that every hard work in the service of the nation and the society will be appreciated and honoured. We do not want to honour such pioneers simply within the confines of a celebration or a year book; rather we want our youth to adopt them as positive role models who will continue to inspire future generations,” Shaikh Mohammad said.

The organising committee of the ‘UAE Pioneers’ initiative said it has received more than 800 nominations for pioneering Emirati personalities in philanthropy and giving, in line with the ongoing Year of Giving 2017 announced by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The UAE, under the leadership of Shaikh Khalifa, has followed Shaikh Zayed’s legacy in providing support to the needy worldwide.

The UAE is among the top donors globally for the fourth year and the first for the third successive year.

The UAE spends more on aid to develop other countries than any other nation on earth compared to its wealth, states a new report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Data published in April by the Paris-based organisation, which has 35 developed countries as its members, noted that the UAE spent Dh15.23 billion on development assistance in 2016.

Shaikh Mohammad said: “The UAE does not provide conditional assistance and neither does for the sake of reciprocal interests. It does so only for the good and stability of all peoples.”

With inputs from Sami Zaatar and Samir Salama, Associate Editor

Tariq Al Gurg, CEO of Dubai Cares speaks about what the organisation has done over the past 10 years. @dubaicares was one of the organisations honoured today at #UAEPioneers.

Fatima Al Jassim the #UAEPioneer who introduced free workshops on the art of dealing with People with Determinations speak about her experience.

Bedour Al Raqbani, owner and founder of Kalimati, a speech and communication centre in Dubai, was honoured today for her work for people of determination. #UAEPioneers

Badriya Al Jabir, UAE's first Deaf teacher and an activist for people with hearing disabilities was honoured today at the @uaepioneers ceremony

Meet Sonia Al Hashemi, she was honoured as a UAE Pioneer today for her work for people with Down syndrome.

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Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid and Mohammad Bin Zayed at the UAE Pioneers Award Image Credit: Dubai Media Office
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UAE Pioneers Award 2017 Image Credit: Supplied
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The UAE flag waves, overlooking the Gulf News Fun Drive camp. Image Credit: Gulf News
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Shaikh Mohammad last year honoured writer Abdul Gaffar Hussain, a businessman, writer and philanthropist. Hussain set up the Dubai Public Library in 1963. Image Credit: Gulf News archive/WAM
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