25 winners of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award announced

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, was selected as the best Local sports personality at the announcement of winners of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Creative Sports Award (MBR).

He was among 25 winners from the 19 categories chosen by the Board of Trustees of MBR and announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

In its sixth year, the MBR is the largest award in terms of value and categories and the first of its kind ever devoted to creativity in sports.

Mohamed Raouraoua from Algeria was chosen as the 'Arab Sports Personality' in recognition of his efforts to support and improvement of sports in the Arab world.

Prince Albert II of Monaco has been chosen as the 'International Sports Personality' for his contributions in spreading and developing sports worldwide.

In addition, Rania Elwani from Egypt won the award of 'Arab Sports Personality' for her contribution to the enrichment of women sports.

Winners of this award are chosen by the Board of Trustees without presenting a candidature files, as an appreciation of their role in promoting the sports movement and their recognised accomplishments over the past years.

The winners were announced by Saeed Hareb, Secretary General of Dubai Sports Council.

Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, MBR, stressed on the importance of the Award.

"First, it is linked with the name of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. Second, this award is known for its value and diversity of its categories. I am also both pleased and honoured that winners of the award are announced few days prior to the national celebrations of the UAE’s Union, a country which has set an example in the eyes of the Arab region and the whole world for following wise policies," said Al Tayer.

He pointed out that the sixth edition witnessed a significant increase in the number of entries that were judged, with a total of 226 local, regional and international candidates presented to the award.

"Although the award is still in its third year of global expansion, we can notice that its status has been clearly enhanced, which confirms that the award has become a locomotive for sports excellence and creativity, not only locally and regionally, but globally," he added.

The MBR winners will be honoured during a special ceremony on January 14 at Dubai World Trade Centre.

“While we are congratulating the winners, we wish that this award will be a new addition to life, not any other ordinary addition, but a step taken towards the endless distinction race,” added Al Tayer.

At the United Arab Emirates level, Faisal Fahad Ahmad Al Ketbi, has won the 'Local Athlete Award' after winning the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2014. He is ranked number 1 in Jiu-Jitsu worldwide.

The United Arab Emirates Men's Handball Team has received the 'Team Creativity Award' after qualifying for the World Championship for Men's Handball (Qatar, 2015).

Mamemo Productions has won the 'Local Sports Institution Award' for creating and organising the Beach Polo Cup.

Ayanleh Souleiman Hassan from Djibouti has won the 'Arab Athlete Award' after scoring the gold medal in the IAAF World Athletics Championships 2014 in the 1500 metres.

Djamel Hamoudi of Algeria has won the title of the 'Arab Referee' after participating in the 2014 Brazil World Cup Finals.

Abdel Hakim Mohamed Issa Al Shino, from the Kingdom of Bahrain has won the 'Creative Arab Administrator Award' for being the first Arab and Asian president to become President of International Military Sports Council in 2014.

The Saudi Football Special Needs Team from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has received the 'Arab Team Award' for scoring three consecutive wins at the INAS World Football Championship, in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

Fitness Time from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has won the 'Creative Arab Institution Award' for launching a sports programme that aims to orient society towards a healthy lifestyle and encourage individuals to practice sports daily.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH), has won the 'International Creative Organisation Award' in recognition of its efforts in organising the Rabobank Hockey World Cup 2014.

Appreciation categories

The athletes and sports organisations winners of the 10 appreciation awards granted during the 6th edition are:

The 'Arab Emerging Athlete Award' has been given to the Egyptian player Ahmed Akram Mohamed Abbas who achieved tremendous success in the sports field, after winning the 800m freestyle at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing 2014.

Ibrahim Al Husseini Hamato from Egypt has won an appreciation award for the category of 'athlete who achieved success in sports despite major humanitarian challenges (category of people with special needs)' after earning second place and winning the silver medal during the African Para Table Tennis Championships - Men’s Category 6 Sharm El Sheikh - December 2013.

Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa from the Kingdom of Bahrain, has received the award of the 'athlete who achieved tremendous success' for organizing the 42 km Khalid Bin Hamad Swimming Challenge from Saudi Arabia to Bahrain.

He participated in this challenge and scored first place by completing it in 20 hours.

Mahdi Abdulrahim Abu Al Hassan has won the 'Local Referee Award' for being the first Arab and Emirati nominated by the FIDE World Chess Federation as head of the arbiter’s panel during the FIDE World Blitz & Rapid Championship.

This award was also given to Yaacoub Ghabesh for being one of the most prominent names among basketball referees both on the International and Arab level. He has also contributed to the success of the Dubai International Basketball Tournament since its beginning in 1989, after working as a referee in its previous edition, where he was a referee in more than 90 games, nine of which are finals.

Ahmad Al Kamali has received the 'Best Local Administrator' award among the appreciation category. 

Youth category

As per the directives of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, Patron of the Award, to support and honour emerging Emirati athletes, several emerging athletes have been chosen among the six nominees.

Fans will be responsible of voting, in collaboration with Dubai Sports Channel, to choose three of the nominees and honour them during the awards ceremony.

They are:

1. Mohamed Saeed Sultan Al Kaabi (Athletics) for those with special needs, for receiving the gold medal at the Malaysia 2013 Asian Youth Para Games.

2. Salem Ahmed Abdullah Al Shehhi (Athletics) for those with special needs, for receiving the silver medal at the 100 metres and bronze medal at the 1500 metres in wheelchair racing at the London Youth Games.

3. Faris Abdullah Mohammed El Janahi (tennis) for winning the individuals and pairs silver medals at the Asian under 14 Championship in Qatar.

4. Amna Noaman Mohammed Al Ali (Chess) for winning the Arab under 20 Chess Championship title and receiving an international title.

5. Rashid Abdullah Souwaidan (cycling) for being the Emirates and Golf Cycling Champion.

6. Issa Ibrahim El Bloushi (table tennis) for winning the silver medal for the 16th Golf National Teams Table Tennis Championship in Jeddah, in 2013.

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