His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minster of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, dedicated this year’s edition of the UAE Pioneers Award to 45 Emirati pioneers, local and federal entities and institutions that have played a vital role in promoting and taking part in the ‘Year of Reading’ in 2016.
The Award ceremony celebrates the pioneers’ important contributions to the nation in various fields in the presence of Sheikhs, ministers, officials and members of the Federal National Council at the St Regis Hotel, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi coinciding with the 45th National Day celebrations.
Individuals and agencies in seven different categories were honoured, including the Emirates Literature Foundation which was awarded for Best Non-Governmental Organisation promoting reading initiatives. The Award was accepted by Isobel Abulhoul, OBE, CEO and Trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
Abulhoul said: ‘We are honoured to accept this Award. The Year of Reading has benefited the entire community and it has been wonderful to be a part of these nationwide initiatives. It is our aim at the Emirates Literature Foundation, through a year-round programme of events including the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, to share the joy of reading among all in the UAE. Reading makes us more empathetic, more understanding and takes us on incredible journeys. We hope to continue these efforts to encourage more young people in the country to take up reading as a hobby and to love books.’
The 2016 UAE Pioneers Award was amended to reflect the UAE’s Year of Reading initiatives. Sheikh Mohammed said that the National Day Anniversary was the best time to honour those behind the initiatives. Sheikh Mohammad was quoted as saying: ‘The UAE pioneers are the ones who took our country to the top in the past and are serving it today. This year will be the year of the true cultural and knowledge change and the UAE National Day is the best occasion to celebrate the Year of Reading supporters.’ A total of 880 governmental, federal and local initiatives were launched to support the Year of Reading.
The achievements of the 45 awardees will be archived in the Cabinet and a book about the winning initiatives during the Year for Reading will be issued.
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