DUBAI- UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has honoured the winners of the 13th Arab Journalism Award (AJA) during a special gala ceremony held at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on Wednesday(May 21st).
The ceremony is held alongside the conclusion of the 13th Arab Media Forum in the presence of a huge host of prominent Arab media leaders, key writers and industry specialists.
The ceremony saw the attendance of Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, H.E. Mohammed Abdulla Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, H.E. Mona Ghanim Al Marri, Secretary General of the Arab Journalism Awards and a huge high-caliber professionals in the fields of media, thought and culture in the region.
Awards were delivered to Arab press to fifteen winners, and found their way to the platform honours from among more than 4,500 works covered various arts and areas of journalism, received by the Secretariat for the award of various daily and weekly newspapers and periodicals in print and online from various Arab and foreign countries.
The ceremony began with a short film which monitored the most important events that have affected the Arab media landscape over the past year. A special honour was also granted to the late Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam. The event also included a presentation creatively presented by the artist Mohammed Al-Dairi in the form of an image of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, patron of the Arab Journalism Award and the Arab Media Forum, in recognition of the Secretariat of the award to His Highness’ support and patronage for the award since its launch in 1999.
Sheikh Mohammed honoured Ibrahim Al Abed, Director General of the National Media Council with the “Media Personality of the Year Award” category in recognition of his contributions to the local and Arab media among which the foundation of UAE News Agency “WAM”.
Sheikh Mohammed, the patron of AJA, also presented the “Best Newspaper Column” award to Mohammed Tawfiq who received the trophy on behalf of the winner; Egyptian writer Ahmad Rajab. The Award came in recognition of Rajab’s efforts in the march of the Arab media through his work as a writer. He is the most prominent symbols of satiric writing in the Arab world, he writes the column, “Nos Kalima” in Egyptian daily “Akhbar Al Youm”. Rajab began his writing career in 1968, in which he highlights the challenges facing society and sheds light on the aspirations of its members.
Dhaen Shaheen, a member of the board of the Arab Journalism Award presented AJA Shield for Investigative Journalism journalist Iman Al Warraqi of the Egyptian “seventh day” for her work titled: “Government hospitals buy death of unlicensed plants.”
Sakina Fuad, AJA Board member presented the AJA shield for Humanitarian Journalism Award to journalist Ahmed Mediani of “Morocco Today” magazine for his work ” Ahfaad Al Abeed in Al Maghreb”.
Dr. Abdul Elah Belqzaiz, member of AJA board presented Political Journalism Award to journalist Amro Bayoumi of “Emirates Today” for his work titled ” The Three Islands: The Question of History… the legitimacy of Sovereignty”.
Raed Barqawi, AJA board member, presented the shield of Press Interviews Journalism Award to journalist Yasser Rizq of ” Al Masri Al Youm” for his interview with Egyptian presidential candidate Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi.
Khaled Al Ma’ina, AJA board member, presented AJA shield of Economic Journalism Award to journalist Mostafa Abdul Adhim of “Al Ittihad” newspaper, UAE, for his work titled ” Qoroudh Al Taraf Tharaa Za’f Yatahawwal ela Warta”.
Mohammed Al Hammadi, AJA board member presented the shield of Specialized Journalism Award to Dr. Adel Allaqani, Editor-in -Chief of “Lughatu Al Asr” magazine for his work “Rescue of Street Children by Technology”.
Dr. Abdul Nasser Al Najjar, AJA board member, presented the shield of Sports Journalism Award to journalist Masaad Abdul Wahhab of “Al Khaleej”, UAE for his work titled: “School Olympiad Project, a Legacy or a Cake”.
AJA board member Aisha Sultan presented the shield of Best Cultural Journalism Award to journalist Sharif Saleh of the Kuwaiti newspaper “Al Nahar” for his work titled:” The Arabic Book… Behind Seven Bars”.
AJA board member Abdul Hamid Ahmed presented the shield of Best Picture Award to photographer Ammar Jameel Awadh of “Reuters”.
Ayman Al Sayyad, AJA board member, presented the shield of Outstanding Cartoon Works Award to Amer Al Zoubi; Ali Shahdour, editing director general at Al Bayan Newspaper received the award on his behalf.
The Vice Chairman of the AJA Dhiaa Rashwan presented shields of honour the three winners of Young Journalist Awards; they are: Aziz Al Hoor of the Moroccan “Al Akhbar”, Mohammed Ahdad of Moroccan “Al Masa” newspaper , and Sami Modni of Moroccan “Al Masa”.