UAE businessman bags Emirat Alyoum monthly prize

An Emirati businessman has been selected as “person of the month” for November by Emirat Al-Youm Arabic language daily, which introduced the award early this year, the Dubai-based newspaper said on Tuesday.

Abdul Salam Rafei was picked as the November personality after donating Dh38 million to fund the construction of a massive clinic complex at Rashid Hospital in Dubai. He was among many local candidates chosen by the newspaper’s management for the award.

“Rafei deserved to win this award with merit as he proved to be an honorable example through his generous gesture,” the newspaper’s editor in chief Sami Al Riyami said.

“He has set a wonderful example in shouldering responsibility towards his nation and in promoting good deeds out of his keenness and love for his country away from any personal gains, fame or propaganda.”

Riyami said Rafei’s gesture would contribute to tackling the problem of crowding at Rashid Hospital, where large queues had packed its corridors. “Some patients had to wait for nearly three months to get an appointment,” he added.

Rashid Hospital executive director Dr Shawqi Khouri said the project includes 84 clinics covering all fields of specializations and that it would be completed in mid 2014.

Emirat Alyoum an affiliate of the Dubai Media Incorporated, one of the largest information establishments in the region, introduced the unique award at the beginning of 2012 and said its editing board would pick the person at the end of each month.

The paper said the prize would be confined to men and women from the UAE as well as other Arab citizens who are residing in the emirates and that it would include a prize, shield and merit certificate.

“The award would not be given to any person in a senior government position nor to any one in DMI,” the paper said in January.

The tabloid paper, one of the region’s most popular Arabic language dailies, is part of the government-owned DMI which also includes Emirates 24/7, the Arabic language Al-Bayan newspapers, Dubai TV and other media outlets.
 

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