Hamdan honours dignitaries for their heritage efforts

Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and Industry and Chairman of Dubai Municipality, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, yesterday attended a celebration marking World Heritage Day which was held at Dubai Municipality's Club in Garhoud.

Sheikh Hamdan honoured a number of dignitaries and officials who contributed to maintaining heritage and historical buildings in Dubai. Engineer Abdullah Al Shaibani, director of Public Projects Department and Engineer Rashad Bukhsh, head of the Historical Building Division were honoured.

Sheikh Hamdan also honoured the winners of Awards for Distinguished Government Per-formance Programme of 2000. The award for Best Teamwork was presented to the team of Hatta rural development project, while the award for the best technical project was given to Jebel Ali hazardous waste recycling unit.

The award for the best administrative experience was presented to the system of inspection of foodstuff companies by laptop computers and the award for distinguished employee was given to Dr Hamed Hatl of the Planning and Survey Department.

Nawal Rashid Abdullah was presented with a merit certificate from Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Minister of Defence General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Rashaad Buhash, head of the historical buildings section, said that Dubai's conservation and rebuilding of UAE heritage and culture was quite successful and they are half way through their projects which should end by 2008.

"These structures help provide the younger generation with an idea of the kind of life lived by their ancestors. We are intending to apply for some of our buildings to be billed as world heritage buildings."