Shaikh Mohammed honours 44 UAE Pioneers

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Shaikh Mohammed honours 44 UAE Pioneers
Shaikh Mohammed honouring Dr Zeinab Abdullah Kazim, first physician in obstetrics and gynaecology in the UAE.

Dubai - 44 of the best and brightest "UAE Pioneers" honoured for their important contributions to the nation.

by

Bernd Debusmann Jr.

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Published: Sun 15 Nov 2015, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Mon 16 Nov 2015, 6:47 PM

His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday, awarded 44 of the best and brightest "UAE Pioneers" for their important contributions to the nation.
Those awarded in the UAE Pioneers initiative - now in its second year - come from a variety of sectors such as education, health, technology, sports, media and philanthropy, as well as from the UAE's government and Armed Forces. The event forms part of the UAE's celebrations ahead of the National Day on December 2.
The 44 personalities selected for the award were chosen from a pool of 2,600 people nominated through the UAE Pioneers website and social media channels.
The winners include Abdul Wahab Al Diwani, the first Emirati ship captain; Hessa Lootah, the UAE's first female TV director; Mahra bint Majed Al Qasimi, the first Emirati school principal; Salam Saeed Kubaish, first public prosecutor; Dr Zeinab Abdullah Kazim, a gynecologist who has performed over 28,000 operations, and Ahmad Khalifa Al Suwaidi, the UAE's first Foreign Minister.
"We have today honoured 44 personalities who are UAE pioneers. They are our pride and honouring them is a thank-you message from the Emirati people for their devoted efforts. We have pioneers in every Emirati home in the UAE since early times. They are the individuals who we can count on to lead the UAE's effort to achieve top rankings in all fields and our ambassadors to the world," Shaikh Mohammed said.
Additionally, Sunday also saw the launch of the "2014 UAE Pioneers" book that profiles last year's 43 winners.
Among those awarded on Sunday was Professor Abdul Rahman Sultan Al Sharhan, the first Dean of the Faculty of Science at UAE University.
"I was Dean of Science and the first professor in the UAE," he said. "I'm proud to be part of this gathering, and I appreciate Shaikh Mohammed looking for pioneers and recognising them."
Another honouree, Abdullah Mohammed Al Buraiki, the first Emirati to work in the precision industry, is an employee of Tawazun Holding Company and has helped train other Emiratis to work with and inspect precision machinery.
"I'm here today because I want to be special, as a mechanic and in everything. I want my country to be proud," he told Khaleej Times. "Tawazun gave me an opportunity to work, and they sent me to France to take some courses."
"Ever since I was a child I was interested in mechanics, and today I just continue my interest," he added. "It's not only a job. It's a hobby and everything for me."
Al Buraiki added that being honoured by Shaikh Mohammed is a dream come true.
"Today really moved me and brought me up," he said. "Dreams don't stop. It shows you can keep going in the future and make your country proud. I'd tell young people to never stop, as this ship (the UAE) will never stop. Our country is unique."
The youngest pioneer awarded on Sunday was 14-year-old Fatima Al Kaabi, an inventor and ninth grade student at Knowledge Palace International School in Al Ain, whose inventions include "electronic bracelets" which are being developed to enhance security for Expo 2020, as well as a number of purpose-built robots and a solar bag that charges mobile devices in remote areas.
"I have 10 inventions, and they are meant to help people and help the environment," she said. "All of my inventions are like my kids, so I can't say whether I have a favourite one, but my most recent is a robot guy named 'Mubtaker Al-Imaarati', which means the 'Emirati innovator'."
"Having Shaikh Mohammed give me the award makes me very happy, and gives me the courage to work more and more," she added.
bernd@khaleejtimes.com

Shaikh Mohammed honouring Ahmed Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, the first blind teacher, at the UAE Pioneers Award Ceremony.
Shaikh Mohammed honouring Ahmed Mukhtar Ahmed Ali, the first blind teacher, at the UAE Pioneers Award Ceremony.
Shaikh Mohammed with Hessa Lootah at the UAE Pioneers Award ceremony.
Shaikh Mohammed with Hessa Lootah at the UAE Pioneers Award ceremony.

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