Melinda Gates Wins Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award 2016
His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, presented the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award to three winners at the opening ceremony of the Knowledge Summit 2016, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) on December 5-7, 2016, at the Grand Hyatt Dubai hotel.
Under the theme “Knowledge… Present and Future”, the three-day Summit brings together prominent ministers, executives, and intellectuals to discuss ways to boost the production and dissemination of knowledge.
The three winners of the $1 million award were Melinda Gates Co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Masdar, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, and The Arab Thought Foundation Chaired by HRH Prince Khalid Al Faisal. Accepting the award on behalf of Ms Gates was Hassan Al-Damluji, Head of Middle East Relations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Melinda Gates commented on winning the award, saying: “It is an honour to have the work of our Foundation recognised by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum through this prestigious award. Bill and I believe that new knowledge is the key to solving the world’s biggest problems. We are proud to collaborate with the UAE to generate and share innovations and insights so that more people can lead healthy and productive lives.”
H.E. Jamal bin Huwaireb, Managing Director of MBRF, said: “The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award recognises intellectual and creative achievements by honouring those innovators behind the global efforts to produce and disseminate knowledge, and encouraging them to carry on with their quest. The Award reflects Dubai’s determination to create a competitive environment that promotes a culture of innovation and creativity.”
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Knowledge Award Winners (PRNewsFoto/MBRF)
H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, said: “I am honoured to be receiving this prestigious award, which strives to encourage institutions working in the knowledge sector and promote innovation in the UAE and abroad, thus aligning with the UAE’s forward-thinking vision.”
The Arab Thought Foundation is an international, independent and non-governmental organisation founded in 2001 with a guiding mission to help advance the economic, social and cultural development of the Arab region. The Foundation launches developmental initiatives, programmes, and events in a bid to help forge cultural partnerships that promote innovation.
SOURCE Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF)
Ray Hanania is an award winning political and humor columnist who analyzes American and Middle East politics, and life in general. He is an author of several books.
Hanania covered Chicago Politics and Chicago City Hall from 1976 through 1992 at the Daily Southtown and the Chicago Sun-Times. He began writing in 1975 publishing The Middle Eastern Voice newspaper in Chicago (1975-1977). He later published “The National Arab American Times” newspaper (2004-2007).
Hanania writes weekly columns on Middle East and American Arab issues as Special US Correspondent for the Arab News ArabNews.com, at TheArabDailyNews.com, and at SuburbanChicagoland.com. He has published weekly columns in the Jerusalem Post newspaper, YNetNews.com, Newsday, the Orlando Sentinel, Houston Chronical, and Arlington Heights Daily Herald.
Hanania is the recipient of four (4) Chicago Headline Club “Peter Lisagor Awards” for Column writing. In November 2006, he was named “Best Ethnic American Columnist” by the New American Media. In 2009, Hanania received the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Award for Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. He is the recipient of the MT Mehdi Courage in Journalism Award. He was honored for his writing skills with two (2) Chicago Stick-o-Type awards from the Chicago Newspaper Guild. In 1990, Hanania was nominated by the Chicago Sun-Times editors for a Pulitzer Prize for his four-part series on the Palestinian Intifada.
His writings have also been honored by two national Awards from ADC for his writing, and from the National Arab American Journalists Association.
Hanania is the US Special Correspondent for the Arab News Newspaper, covering Middle East and Arab American issues. He writes for the Southwest News newspaper group writing on mainstream American issues.
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