Mohammad awarded media patron title

Dubai: The Arab League has announced it has awarded His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the title of the First Patron of the Arab Media.

The award comes as a tribute to Shaikh Mohammad's outstanding presence in activating the role of audio-visual and written media in Arab societies as a civilised means for scientific, human and cultural development.

The announcement came at the concluding ceremony of the 4th Forum of Arab Producers held at the Arab league headquarters in Cairo in recognition of the efforts of Shaikh Mohammad in this field.

It is the first time an Arab leader has won this title, said sources at the Arab League.

This reflects the great appreciation of the media and its people for the patronage and support that Shaikh Mohammad has extended to the media enabling them to play vital roles in social, scientific, cultural, economic and political development in the Arab world.

The media can mirror a civilised face of the Arab nation, effectively depicting their love for peace, art, culture, literature and humanitarian work, the sources noted.

Shaikh Mohammad attended a part of the celebration held Thursday evening marking the end of the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) and met a number of Arab and foreign participants who expressed their joy at meeting him. Shaikh Mohammad wished the artists success in their cultural and artistic mission.