Month: March 2022

Winners of UAE Government Excellence Award Honoured at Expo 2020 Dubai


Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, today honoured the winners of the 6th edition of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Government Excellence Award at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The award ceremony was organised by the UAE government. The award, which included 17 institutional categories, aims at encouraging federal government institutions to better serve the UAE society at all levels and motivate the principles of excellence.

The Mohammed Bin Rashid Government Excellence Award was launched in 2009 under the umbrella of Sheikh Khalifa Government Excellence Programme (SKGEP), which was the first integrated federal platform to gauge and celebrate excellence in performance and innovative initiatives in the UAE federal government.

The award seeks to promote the role of the federal government institutions serving the UAE society at all levels, as well as increasing awareness about the principles of excellence and its role in modern governments. The award also aims at developing the competencies required to boost excellence in the federal government.

List of winners:

-Leading Federal Entity (ministry with more than 500 employees): Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

-Leading Federal Entity (ministry with less than 500 employees): Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy.

-Leading Federal Entity (departments with more than 500 employees): Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship and Port Security.

-Leading Federal Entity (departments with less than 500 employees): Federal Authority for Government Human Resources; and Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.

-Best Entity for Performance Improvement: Central Bank of UAE; and Ministry of Community Development.

-Best Entity in Vision Realization: Ministry of Interior.

-Best Achievement of the National Agenda: Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority.

-Best Entity in Enhancing Wellbeing: Ministry of Community Development.

-Best Entity for Institutional Flexibility: Ministry of Interior.

-Best Entity in Wellbeing at the Workplace: Ministry of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

-Best Achievement of the Leading Position and Competitiveness: General Civil Aviation Authority; and Ministry of Interior.

-Best Entity in Future Readiness: Ministry of Finance.

-Best Entity for Remote Work Applications: Ministry of Health and Prevention.

-Best Entity for Artificial Intelligence Adoption: Ministry of Interior.

-Best Entity in Data and Knowledge Management: Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.

-Best Entity in Partnership and Integration: Ministry of Interior.

-Best Entity in Government Communication: Ministry of Community Development.

-Best Entity in proactive services for customers: Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

-Best Entity in the field of Innovation: Ministry of Health and Prevention.

-Best Entity in the field of Service Channels Classification: Ministry of Interior; and Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

-Best Entity for Youth Empowerment: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

-Leading Federal Entity in Excellence Sustainability: Ministry of Interior.

Pride of the UAE medals: –

–Dr. Mansoor Mohammed Al Awar.

–Ali Abbas Al Belooshi, orthopedic conducting bone surgery through AI and robots.

–Fatima Al Mulla, UAE researcher and academic in future fields.

-The Prime Minister’s Medal for Distinguished Ambassador:

Abdullah Saif Al Nuaimi, UAE ambassador to South Korea; and Lana Zaki Nussaiba

-The Prime Minister’s Medal for Distinguished Undersecretary:

Mozza Ibrahim Al Akraf, Ministry of Community Development.

-The Prime Minister’s Medal for Distinguished.

-Director-General: Dr Yousef Mohammed Al Serkal, Emirates Health Services and Lt. Suhail Saeed Al Khayali, Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security.

List of winners of Mohammed bin Rashid Scarfs: –

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Commissioner-General of Expo 2020 Dubai.

–Reem Al Hashimi, Minister of State for International Cooperation.

–Dr. Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to the UAE President.

–Abdulrahman Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention.

–Khaldoun Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority.

-Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of State for Advanced Technology.

Best projects:

–National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority.

–Emirates Group for Global Economic Partnerships.

–Youth Hub.

–Baraka Nuclear.

source/content : wam.ae

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

13th Makkah Excellence Award Winners Honored – Saudi Arabia, March 2022

The winners’ ceremony for the 13th Makkah Excellence Award took place on Wednesday, with recipients honored by Gov. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal.

The awards were announced earlier in February during the sixth session of the Makkah Cultural Forum, which was held under the theme of “How to be a role model in the digital world.”

In its sixth session, the Makkah Cultural Forum achieved nearly 771 digital initiatives, and the Makkah Excellence Award, since its inauguration, received more than 4,500 initiatives.

The awards covered nine categories.

The Ministry of Sports won the award for administrative excellence, with the prize handed to Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal.

The scientific and technical excellence award went to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.

King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah won the environmental excellence award and this was presented to Abdulaziz Alduailej, president of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

The Special Forces for Hajj and Umrah Security won the award for Hajj and Umrah services. The prize was presented to Maj. Gen. Mohammed Al-Bassami, commander of the Hajj Security Forces.

Two companies were honored for their economic excellence. The first was Um Al Qura Development Company, with the prize presented to Abdullah Saleh Kamel, chairman of the company’s board of directors. The second was Petro Rabigh Company, and the award was presented to Othman A. Al-Ghamdi, Petro Rabigh’s president and CEO.

The humanitarian excellence award went to the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, with the award given to the authority’s president Jalal Alowaisi. The other winner of this award was Fayez Al-Malki, a Saudi actor known for his humanitarian work. Al-Malki was the only individual winner across all categories.

The cultural excellence award went to the Red Sea International Film Festival, and was presented to Film Commission CEO Abdullah Al-Eyaf.

The urban excellence award was given to the Jeddah dome project, and the prize was presented to Nawaf Abdulkareem, director general of Jeddah season.

The Ehsan charity platform was recognized for its social excellence.

Wednesday’s ceremony also honored and announced the winners of the Makkah Days Challenge for Programming and Artificial Intelligence.

Winners included the University of Jeddah for their “Air Supply Ambulance” initiative in the field of Hajj and Umrah, Taif University for an initiative called “Mustahil” in the field of smart cities, and Um Al Qura University for its “Athar” initiative in the field of tourism and entertainment.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah region, during his speech. (Supplied)

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SAUDI ARABIA

March 09th – Egypt Commemorates Martyr’s Day

The day is originally held in the memory of Lieutenant General Abdel Moneim Riyad’s martyrdom in 1969, when he went to the front on the second day of the War of Attrition to personally follow up on the results of the previous day’s battle and to be among his armed forces’ colleagues

“I Am from Every Egyptian House.” Under this slogan, Egypt’s armed forces launched the celebration of Martyr’s Day on the 53rd anniversary of the martyrdom of Lieutenant-General Abdel Moneim Riyad.

source/content : egypttoday.com (edited)

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EGYPT

March 08th – International Women’s Day

Egypt:

24% of Egypt’s ministerial positions held by women in 2021: CAPMAS

https://www.zawya.com/en/economy/north-africa/24-of-egypts-ministerial-positions-held-by-women-in-2021-capmas-u0s1vxbs

Morocco:

Casablanca Celebrates Inspiring Moroccan Women Leaders

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2022/03/347515/casablanca-celebrates-inspiring-moroccan-women-leaders

Saudi Arabia:

International women’s day: From train drivers to ice cream parlors — Saudi women take new jobs

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2038106/business-economy

United Arab Emirates (U.A.E)

International Women’s Day: The incredible Emirati women to take inspiration from

International Women’s Day: The incredible Emirati women to take inspiration from

Somali-Italian Abdullahi Ahmed Moalim Elected Councillor in Torino City, Italy

Somali immigrant who conquered the high seas for seven months in 2008 elected Councillor in Italy.

He braved the desert and the high seas at the height of turmoil in Mogadishu in 2008 and for seven months, Abdullahi Ahmed Moalim kept the dream alive against the odds of the dangerous journeys taken by many Somalis but survived by a few.

This week, Moalim was elected a Councillor in Turino City in Italy becoming the first Somali immigrant to occupy the position in about 25 years. He garnered 1112 votes in City Council elections conducted on October 17, 2021

Upon arrival in Italy in 2008, Moalim integrated into his new home and eight years later in 2016, he was granted citizenship.

“I declared my candidature in July after the Democratic Party convinced me to run for the seat in October elections. We launched a two months campaign which was fruitful and helped us secure the seat,” Moalim said in a media interview.

Asked about his priorities, Moalim said he aspired to fight Islamophobia and was intend on seeking the Council’s approval for a day every month to create awareness on countering Islamophobia.

Moalim now joins the ranks of Mohamed Aden Sheikh who was elected to Turino City Council in 1997.

He also enters the club of growing number of Somalis who have been elected into office in countries such as Canada and the US.

source/content: modernghana.com

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Abdullahi Ahmed Moalim

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ITALY / SOMALIA

Dr. Farida Al Hosani becomes First Emirati Female to join World Health Organisation’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework Advisory Group

Dr Farida Al Hosani.

AbuDhabi Public Health Centre, the region’s first dedicated centre protecting the physical, mental and social wellbeing of Abu Dhabi’s population by raising public and preventative healthcare awareness, is pleased to announce that H.E. Dr Farida Al Hosani, Infectious Disease Expert and Executive Director of Infectious Diseases and Official Spokesperson for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Health Sector, has joined the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP Framework) Advisory Group as a Member for the period 2022-2024.

Members of the Advisory Group are appointed by the Director-General of the World Health Organisation and serve, in their personal, expert capacity, for a period of three years. The key goal of the framework is to improve and strengthen the sharing of information about influenza viruses with human pandemic potential, and to increase the access to vaccines and other pandemic related supplies for developing countries.

The PIP Framework is focused on the sharing of information around influenza viruses and promoting the access to vaccines and other benefits. It was adopted in May 2011 by the 64th World Health Assembly which comprises 18 members drawn from three Member States in each WHO Region.

source/content: mediaoffice.abudhabi

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

New Cookbook ‘Cooking Her Heritage, Saudi Arabia’ Showcases Cultural Heritage

A new cookbook focusing on traditional meals titled “Cooking Her Heritage, Saudi Arabia” was launched on Mar 02nd, Wednesday at the Diriyah Art Biennale Foundation.

Five women prepared the book: Dr. Awatif Alkeneibit, Sahar Jamal, Begoña Mateos, Jacqueline Jackaman, and Cristina Sanchez.

It is divided into five sections, each incorporating specific recipes from the Kingdom’s regions. It highlights the most classic and iconic Saudi dishes, revealing the cooking secrets and culinary practices handed down over many years in the nation’s homes.

  • Five female co-authors seek to highlight regional dishes, more than 100 recipes drawn from Kingdom’s homes
  • Over 100 recipes drawn from Kingdom’s homes published in Arabic and English

source/content: arabnews.com

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Authors attend the launching of ‘Cooking Her Heritage, Saudi Arabia’ at the Diriyah Art Biennale Foundation. (Supplied)

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SAUDI ARABIA

Egypt’s Zeinab El Kawashti: The Female Wedding Officiator Defying Gender Roles

In December 2020, Zeinab el Kawashti married a couple, Sondos and Karim, in front of their family and friends. In a different time and place, this would have been a normal occurrence, yet it was the first time any of the guests had seen a woman as a marriage officiant.

This is not odd, given that female Ma’azin (Muslim marriage officiants) are extremely rare.

The first-ever female marriage officiant in Egypt was Amal Soliman; she was hired in 2018 by the Egyptian family court and has since then married more than 300 couples. Many were inspired by Soliman, among them El Kawashti.

El Kawashti is a female M’azoun, a mother of three, and an Azhar Law and Religious Studies graduate.

To become a Ma’zoun in Egypt, one must have at least a Bachelor’s degree. Ma’azin are restricted to their jobs as officiants, with no further commitments. There are around 45 requirements to become a Ma’zoun in Egypt, including age. As of 2014, a Ma’zoun can only be between the ages of thirty and forty. The requirements also include maintaining optimal physical wellbeing.

source/content : egyptianstreets.com

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Zeinab El Kawashti officiating at a katb ketab. Photo Credit: Sondos Moussa

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EGYPT

 Latifa Ibn Ziaten, Awarded ‘Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2022’ : March 01st, 2022

Latifa Ibn Ziaten . French-Moroccan Activist. President, Association for Youth and Peace (IMAD).

Zayed Award for Human Fraternity has empowered me to continue fighting: Latifa Ibn Ziaten.

Anti-extremist French-Moroccan activist Latifa Ibn Ziaten, President of the Association for Youth and Peace (IMAD), called on countries participating in Expo 2020 Dubai to support the efforts aimed at supporting peaceful coexistence and combatting extremism.

She also lauded the UAE’s efforts to encourage social peace and promote the principles of tolerance and human fraternity.

In an exclusive interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Latifa Ibn Ziaten, winner of the award in 2021, expressed her appreciation for the award.

“I am proud to be here in the UAE, the country that gave me the opportunity to win the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, which empowered and motivated me to continue my journey and fight to help marginalised youths,” she said.

“We need to help each other, most notably the youth who engage in terrorism. I will explore the reasons that led them to choose extremism, as people are not born terrorists, but factors, such as misery, ignorance, desperation and specific lifestyles, have led them to become prey for terrorism,” she added.

Ibn Ziaten said that she delivered several lectures in Abu Dhabi on terrorism and participated in seminars on how to save the youth from terrorism, in addition to delivering lectures in Morocco, the US, India and Mali. In France, she has worked with the Ministry of Education and conducts weekly lectures to raise the awareness of the youth.

After her son was killed in a terrorist attack in 2021, Latifa Ibn Ziaten has dedicated herself to promoting tolerance and countering terrorism.

source/content: wam.ae

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FRANCE / MOROCCO

Winners of 17th Algerian International Quran Contest Awarded

Top winners of the 17th edition of Algeria’s international Quran competition were awarded in a ceremony on Sunday, February 28th

Zeinab Bin Yousuf won claimed the title of the event. Yahya Bilal Yousuf from Bahrain and Syrian Abd al-Rahman Mohammad Hardan ranked third.

The ceremony was attended by a host of Algerian Quran activists and officials.

Representatives from 48 countries took part in this edition, which was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The contestants went to Algeria’s embassies and consulates in their country to take part in the competition via video links.

Members of the panel of judges were from Algeria, Egypt, and Guinea.

According to Algeria’s Awqaf ministry, Wa Rattil al-Quran Tartila (referring to verse 4 of Surah a-Muzmmil that orders reciting the Quran in Tarteel) was the motto of this year’s competition.

Unlike previous editions that were held in the holy month of Ramadan, this edition was organized in the lunar Hijri month of Rajab on the occasion of Lailat-Al-Miraj, the day when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) ascended to all the seven stages of heaven.

Launched in 2004, Algeria’s international Quran contest is held annually on memorization of the Holy Quran with the participation of young people under the age of 25.

source/contents: iqna.ir

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ALGERIA / BAHRAIN / SYRIA