Award ceremony held in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and H.R.H. Prince Khalid Al Faisal
The Arab Thought Foundation (ATF), in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation and Chairman of the National Olympic Committee and His Royal Highness Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation, honored the winners of the Arab Creativity Award 2017, the 11th edition of the award. The ceremony was held in Dubai and was attended by: His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the Chairman of the Board of the Foundation; and His Royal Highness Turki Al Faisal, Chairman of the Board of King Faisal Center for Islamic Research and Studies.
The winners of the Arab Creativity Award were: Dr. Frederic Maatouk (Lebanon) in the Most Valuable Book category for “Clash of Arab Tribalism,” while the Media Creativity Award went to “Opinions About the Gulf” magazine and Dr. Abdulaziz bin Othman bin Saqer (KSA). The Artistic Creativity Award went to “Muhaqqaq Calligraphy” by Dr. Nassar Mansour (Jordan), the Literary Creativity Award went to “Only a Millimeter Away” by Abdelwahid Estito (Morocco), and the Social Creativity Award went to the “Elderly Empowerment Project” by Dr. George Eli Karam (Lebanon). The Economic Creativity Award was withheld. The Foundation also awarded the Arab World Institute with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
His Royal Highness Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, the Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation gave a speech in which he congratulated the winners, saying: “I am pleased to welcome you to this forum which is blessed with your presence. We gather to honor the Arab beacons that pave the way for Arab culture to prosper.”
“Our brightest minds often warned of the deterioration of our culture, and the repercussions that threaten the Arab identity itself. It is imperative for us to acknowledge this painful reality, and work with sincerity and wisdom to develop a better future for the next generation. We still hold the keys of creativity, ingenuity and perseverance – we have a course, a direction,” added His Royal Highness.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the Arab Thought Foundation represents the launching of an ambitious initiative to chart a path forward. We aim to establish solidarity between Arab intellectuals and financial figures who are already striving for the betterment of our region. The ATF is committed to facilitating dialogue on the most pressing Arab issues at its conferences, bringing disparate viewpoints to the same table for rational discussions,” continued His Royal Highness.
“The FIKR conference series focuses on positive Arab integration, a step towards the Arab dream of unity. And his year’s conference FIKR16 is focused on chaos and its consequences, the means of stabilizing the region, the visions of the international powers, the experience of regional organizations, and the contributions of various sectors on the hearts and minds of Arabs,” explained His Royal Highness.
“These prizes shine a light on the experience and integrity of their recipients, who have dedicated themselves to the service of their nations and the Arab people. Their accomplishments across a wide range of fields have established them as beacons of hope, and earned them the right to be honored here and supported as they continue their journey of giving,” remarked His Royal Highness.
“In conclusion, allow me to congratulate this remarkable group of people on your behalf for winning these awards, and to say to them: Your nation is proud of you and is expecting more from you, and you are up to this task. I would also like to thank the United Arab Emirates, and especially the Emirate of Dubai, for its support of this conference,” concluded His Royal Highness.