Mohammed: 'UAE Pioneers' are our ambassadors to world in all fields

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said that he is proud of UAE nationals, and the country will provide everything to enable them to achieve excellence and become leaders in all fields so that they become ambassadors for the UAE.
He was speaking at a ceremony to honour 44 distinguished personalities during the UAE Pioneers Award 2015 event organised at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai as part of the 44th National Day celebrations.
On this occasion, Sheikh Mohammed said: "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."
Present at the ceremony were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai,  Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Affairs Minister and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of ‘UAE Pioneers’ initiative Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, a number of ministers and parents and families of the honorees.
During the ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid honoured 44 distinguished Emirati personalities in various fields such as education, health, innovation, technology, sports, arts, culture, media and philanthropy as well as government and military sectors and distinguished initiatives.
Topping the list of those honoured was Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, the UAE’s first Foreign Minister. Sheikh Mohammed said: "We honour Ahmed Al Suwaidi, the first foreign minister and the first to deliver the Union statement. We are proud of him for his efforts to build the UAE."
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launched the ‘UAE Pioneers 2014’ book, which is an encyclopaedia featuring 43 Emirati leaders and pioneers in their respective fields who were honoured by His Highness at the first edition of the UAE Pioneers initiative last year.
 The launching was attended by a number of winners in 2014. During the event the pioneers signed the book and shared their experiences with the audience. The book highlights the initiative as an innovative platform to celebrate the UAE’s achievements and promote the culture of excellence among the people of the country. It promotes the ideal of sacrifice for the country and leadership through the stories of the UAE Pioneers, showcasing the success and excellence achieved by each individual and their loyalty to the homeland.
The book, published in cooperation with Dar Kuttab Publishing House, highlights inspiring stories of these personalities who spared no effort to serve the UAE. The book is a national encyclopaedia, which features all the stories and experiences of the winners of the UAE Pioneers initiative, and will serve as a reference guide for future generations.

The list of UAE Pioneers 2015 includes:
 
1.    Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, the First Foreign Minister and the First to broadcast the UAE Union Statement.

Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi is the first to read the historic statement of the founding of the UAE on December 2, 1971. He then went on to become the first UAE Foreign Minister and was the most prominent adviser to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for several years until he was appointed as the personal representative of the UAE President.

Al Suwaidi was present at historical occasions and meetings with the various emirates before the Union, and he witnessed the founding of the UAE, which today is a global destination thanks to its people and its wise leadership.

He is one of the national figures who contributed to the foundation of the UAE as well as contributing in culture, humanitarian issues and others. Ahmed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, the UAE’s first Foreign Minister.

2. Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi: The First Arab to be elected in the Executive Committee of the International Publishers Association (IPA).

She is the founder and CEO of Kalimat, a publishing house that specialises in publishing quality Arabic children’s books. She has made economic, cultural and social contributions within and outside the UAE, and supported young people by disseminating culture among them. Recently she won the title of ‘Youth Global Leader’, awarded by the World Economic Forum annually for the young leaders who contribute to changes in their societies.
 
3. Juma Al Majid: The first Founder of a Writing Restoration Centre (Juma Al Majid Centre for Culture and Heritage).

He is one the most prominent figures of culture, thought and charity in the UAE and the Arab world, and one of the pioneers of humanitarian and social work. He has contributed to the fields of economy, science and culture at various levels.
 
4. Alia Al Kaabi: The first female prosecutor

She has a degree in Law and Sharia and graduated from UAE University in 2003. She joined the law sector and was the first Emirati woman to hold several positions. She currently heads the Family Prosecution in Abu Dhabi.
 
5. Abdullah Mohammed Al Buraiki: The first to work in the precision industry

Abdullah Al Buraiki began his professional career in 2011 in the Tawazun Holding Company, which gave him the opportunity to work with them as an inspector of precision machines in appreciation for his high performance and advanced skills.
 
6. Ali Mohamed Bujsaim: The first UAE international football referee

He participated in a series of major international tournaments, including three tournaments of the World Cup (1994, 1998, and 2002). During his long career, he proved his reputation as a world-class referee.
 
7. Dr. Hessa Abdullah Lootah: First female TV director

She is one of the leading Emirati media personalities, and became the first Emirati female television director in 1983. She directed a number of diverse cultural programmes.
 
8. Dr. Fatima Taher: The first innovator of an electronic system to help in early detection of lung cancer

She developed this diagnosis system in 2014, and has more than 14 research papers in this field. She currently works as Assistant Professor in Khalifa University, and also oversees the PhD students at the university.
 
9. The late Ahmed Al Hamli: The first fighter pilot

He graduated as the first Emirati fighter pilot in 1973 and joined the Air Force serving as a fighter pilot of Mirage 3\5. He was later appointed as Commander of fighter jets squadron. In 1983, he was chosen as Manager of Training and Operations in the Air Force Base.
 
10. Salem Ibrahim bin Darwish Al Naimi: The first teacher in formal education

He worked as a teacher in 1965 for two years in Qasmiyeh School, the same school where he studied at an early age.
 
11. Captain Abdul Wahab Al Diwani: The first Sea Captain

Abdulwahab Al Diwani was the first Emirati sea captain and the first Emirati sea guide in Port Rashid in Dubai. He was the first Director General of the Arab League’s maritime academy. He has trained 4,600 naval officers from Arab countries.
 
12. Dr. Mohammad Abdulaziz Sultan Al Olama: The first surgeon to implant brain pressure measuring device and monitor pressure through wireless device

He was the first surgeon to implant devices to measure brain pressure in the brain. He conducted more than 800 brain and spine surgeries, including surgeries to remove brain tumours at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, the only hospital that specialises in neurosurgery in Sweden.
 
13. Professor Abdul Rahman Sultan Al Sharhan: The first Dean in the UAE

He was the first Dean in the UAE of the Faculty of Science, University of UAE in 1995. He holds the presidency of the Middle East branch of the American Academy of Petroleum Geology, which has more than 35,000 members from around the world.
 
14. Khaleda Ali Khamas and Abdel Basset Merdas: The first to establish a Thalassemia humanitarian association

They established the Emirates Thalassemia Association in 1997 after they realised that their child has thalassemia at a time when awareness about the condition was very low in the country. The association today plays a leading role in raising awareness among the members of the community to take measures to prevent thalassemia by encouraging medical examination before marriage.
 
15. The Late Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad Abu Shihab: The first to document Nabati poetry in the UAE

He is the first to establish television programme on Nabati poetry, and the first to publish this kind of poetry in daily newspapers.
 
16. Fatima Al Kaabi: Youngest Inventor

She has contributed about ten different inventions in the fields of environment and special needs. Fatima is currently working on an invention in the area of sustainable energy, and another on limiting the use the phone while driving.
 
17. Ahmed Mohammed Al Mansouri: The first presenter

He is one the leading media personalities in the UAE. He began his career in 1967 as a presenter in the ‘Voice of the Coast’ radio. Ahmed Obaid was a witness to a number of the prominent local events. He was appointed as director of Dubai television in 1973, and later became assistant director of Abu Dhabi radio and television. He accompanied the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum during their overseas tours and headed media delegations.
 
18. Mariam Al Matrooshi: The first to win the silver medal at the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports World Games

She won the medal in javelin throw at a championship event in Bangalore, India, in 2009. She then took part in a number of international tournaments until the World Olympiad held in London in 2012. She works as an Administrative Assistant in the UAE Navy.
 
19. Captain Ahmed Al Shamsi: The first pilot to fly Airbus and Boeing aircraft

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Sciences in 2001 from Florida, USA. He has experience of over 35 years in the aviation industry, and currently serves as vice president of quality and audit affairs in the Emirates Airline.
 
20. Dr. Zeinab Abdullah Kazim: First physician in obstetrics and gynecology

She began her career in 1964 in the Kuwaiti Hospital. Dr. Zeinab worked to devise methods that facilitated safe deliveries. She has conducted more than 18,000 deliveries and provided patient care of women and children throughout her career spanning over 50 years.

21. Brigadier Dr. Ahmad Al Haddad: First researcher in the field of Arabic handwriting and signature recognition for criminal investigation

His specialisation has enabled him to resolve thousands of cases received by the courts and prosecution offices. He holds PhD from the University of Lincoln.
 
22. The Late Sheikh Muhammad bin Ali Al Mahmoud: The founder of the first formal education school in the UAE

He founded the first formal education school in the UAE: Qasmiyeh School in 1953, a major step in the field of education which contributed to the empowering of young Emiratis. Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali also established Qasmiyeh Library in 1936 which served as a cultural forum for students and included several educational, religious, historical and literary books.
 
23. Faisal Abdullah Al Marzouki: First UAE inventor of water desalination technology based on nanotechnology

He invented water desalination technology based on nanotechnology using a method that involved reduced energy consumption. He received a PhD from Masdar Institute.
 
24. Saeed Ahmed Saeed: The first to win an international chess championship

He won the World Junior Chess Championship in Mexico in 1979, proudly representing the UAE at the international event.
 
25. Counsellor Salem Saeed Kubaish: The First Public Prosecutor

He is one of the most prominent legal figures in the UAE, and contributed his service to the nation by investigating several legal issues concerning the UAE and its reputation. Immediately after his graduation, he was appointed as a public prosecutor and went on to become the Attorney General in his first year in the Federal Prosecutor's Office.
 
26. Fatima Khalifa Mattar: The first flight engineer

She obtained her degree in 2007 in Emirates Aviation College. After obtaining her licence for the international aircraft maintenance in the same year, Fatima continued her studies and obtained a degree in aviation management in 2010. She works for Emirates, and is currently pursuing her Master Degree in aviation management.
 
27. The Late Mohammed Ali Abdullah Abdouli: The first judge in the federal courts

He is one the leading legal personalities in the UAE and contributed significantly to promoting the justice system in the country through his position as the first Emirati judge in the federal courts. He worked in Sharjah Federal Court until his death in 2001.
 
28. Abdulrahman Mohammed Hokal: The first sports commentator

Abdulrahman Hokal has a proven record of accomplishment in the field of sports commentator in the Gulf championships, and also worked as a producer and presenter of sports programmes in Sharjah TV from 1990 to 2002 during which he presented some important programmes. Abdulrahman Hokal worked to promote sports commentary among the public in addition to raising the UAE name in international forums, especially as a sports commentator.  He has helped young people in this field based on his extensive experiences in the field.
 
29. Sheikha Mahra bint Majid Al Qasimi: The first female school principal

Sheikha Mahra became the Principal of Zahra School in 1965. She taught social subjects. She was among the leading Emiratis who supported women empowerment in general and in education in particular. She holds BA in geography and education in 1971 from Kuwait University.
 
 30. Dr. Adel Abdullah Moussa Al Maroui: The first doctor to specialise in Neurosurgery

He uses global techniques in surgical procedures in the UAE, such as surgical navigation system, which relies on CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging and 3D image technology to enable doctors to get a realistic picture of the surgical process, thereby considerably reducing potential risks.
 
31. Abdul Rahman Al Hasawi: The first physical education teacher

He holds a Diploma in Physical Education. He was the first teacher in physical education in the UAE, serving this field from 1965 to 1972. Abdul Rahman Al Hasawi has worked in the Ministry of Youth and Sports before he was appointed as Assistant Undersecretary.
 
32. Dr. Jamila Salem Al Suwaidi: First specialist in the field of medical physics

Dr. Jamila Al Suwaidi represented the United Arab Emirates in the International Atomic Energy Agency and many national scientific projects in the field of radiation protection and medical imaging as well as in workshops and international conferences.  She holds a Phd in nuclear medical physics from UK in 1995.
 
33. Rashid Ali Abdul Rahman: The first to get PhD in special needs sports

He holds PhD in ‘Sport and Special Needs in the UAE’ from Brunel University in the UK, and Masters in Special Needs Sports from Alexandria University in 2004. His passion for special needs sports came out from its role in improving the physical, psychological, social and mental health of the disabled. He works as a teacher for the development of quality education in the special needs sports in Abu Dhabi Education Council.

34. Sheikha Mubarak Saif Al Nakhi: The first  female story author

She is one of the leading women in the UAE who contributed to the culture movement. Her first story titled: ‘The story of Departure’ was published in 1970s in the Dubai News magazine, which was later issued as a book in 1992. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Arabic language and Islamic studies from UAE University, then a Diploma in Education. She held a position of Ghubaiba Second School Principal in Sharjah.
 
35 . The Late Ahmed bin Mohammed Borahimh: The first director of a formal school

He was the director of the first formal school - Al Eslah Al Qasmiyeh School - in 1953, and contributed to the introduction of formal education in the UAE.
 
36. Abdullah Darwish: The first TV director

He began his career in 1968 after he was sent to Kuwait for television production training in Kuwait TV. He returned to the UAE and contributed to the opening of the first television station in 1968. He continued to work at Dubai TV until his retirement in 2005.
 
37. Suhail Salem: The first football player to score an international goal

Suhail Salem scored the first international goal for the UAE during its match with Qatar in the 1972 Gulf Cup held in Saudi Arabia. He is one of the best football players in the UAE.
 
38. Mohammad Al Hashemi: The first inventor of electromagnetic energy-powered motor system

He invented a system to run motors using electromagnetic field energy, adopting an innovative way of using clean sustainable energy. This project was the first of its kind in the UAE, and has been selected by the IEEE as one of the best projects in the region for 2013. He currently works for Mubadala as analyst.
 
39.  Lieutenant Colonel Afra Saeed Al Falasi: The first commander of  Female Military School

She is an excellent example for Emirati women, having graduated in the first military course at Khawla bint Al Azwar Military School where she is also its principal.  Colonel Afra received several awards in honour of her efforts, such as the anniversary of the silver jubilee of the unification of the armed forces medals, good service medal for the first time, and others.
 
40. Saeed bin Suroor Al Khalidi: The first to obtain the title of best global horse racing coach

He won the title for best horse racing coach at the global level five times, and four times in Britain. He has more than 1,800 wins around the world, including 178 victories in first-class races.
 
41. Maryam Yousef Al Awadi: The first female journalist

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in journalism and publishing from the Faculty of Mass Communication of the University of Cairo in 1979. She worked in Etihad newspaper from 1979 to 1998, and Sharjah TV from 2001 to 2008 where she participated in various television programmes.
 
42. Dr. Rasheed Al Hammadi: The first to obtain a doctorate degree in human anatomy and cell biology

Dr. Rasheed Al Hammadi was the first Emirati to hold a doctorate degree in human anatomy and cell biology (neurosciences) from University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
 
43. Abeer Zaid Al Shahi: First to specialise in sign language

She is working to raise awareness about special needs of people with different issues. Abeer began her career as a teacher for the deaf in Fujairah Rehabilitation Centre for people with special needs in 2004, where she learned about the difficulties of integrating the deaf into the society. One of her achievements is translating the book, Flashes of Thought, into sign language. She is the holder of a Master's degree in special education in 2010 from the University of Sharjah.
 
44. Ahmed Mukhtar Ahmed Ali: First blind teacher

Ahmed Mukhtar helped blind students by incorporating Braille in the curriculum, and providing Braille training to teachers. He constantly communicated with the families of blind students, guiding them with advice on how to deal with their blind children, and helping them in their studies.
 
The Organising Committee of UAE Pioneers initiative said the ceremony is an annual event to honor leading Emiratis in various fields. The committee said it received during the nomination period, which began earlier this month and lasted for ten days, more than 2,600 entries through the website of the initiative. The committee reviewed the names with the concerned authorities for approval.

Mohammed receives Governor of Virginia
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Sunday received Terry McAuliffe, Governor of the US State of Virginia.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and the Governor of Virginia reviewed bilateral relations between the UAE and the United States in various fields, especially in terms of trade and investment. They also highlighted the importance of the role of businessmen in strengthening the bonds of cooperation and the exchange of experiences between the two sides.
Present during the meeting were Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

Sheikh Mohammed and the Governor of Virginia also exchanged talks about a number of issues of common interest and common aspects between Dubai and Virginia City that can help establishing a business and investment partnership between the two sides.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Mohammed Ibrahim AI Shaibani, Director-General of His Highness the Ruler's Court, Government of Dubai, Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Qamzi, and Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai.




 

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