SimplyAbuDhabi V

41 S IMPLY ABU DHABI Dr Jamal Ali Sanad Al Suwaidi (UAE) Born in 1959, Dr Jamal Ali Sanad Al Suwaidi has, throughout his career, made invaluable contributions in the field of academic and cultural development at both local and regional levels, enriching many lives through his work. Having studied for his PhD in political science at the University of Wisconsin in the USA, he returned to Abu Dhabi in 1991 and it was during his role as a professor of political science at UAE University that he further fostered his passion in the early studies of the political and economic development of the UAE. With a keen interest in the areas challenging the local and Arab world, he has aimed to deal with such matters in his articles. By assisting significantly in the establishment of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) in 1994, Dr Al Suwaidi has helped to raise Abu Dhabi’s regional and global levels profile. With his enthusiasm and innate talents he has also helped to instil a culture of research and academic study in the emirate. Dr. Al Suwaidi has also made great strides in building notable partnerships resulting in many key positions with institutions including the Emirates Institute of Diplomacy and Zayed University. To name a few, he is a member of the advisory board of the Faculty of Policy and International Affairs at the University of Maine, USA, as well as a member of the UAE Platform of Friendship, and the Swiss-Arab House. He has been particularly significant in helping to encourage a stronger bond between the UAE and France building mutual respect between the countries. As a result of this commitment, the Abu Dhabi Awards are not the first occasion his efforts have been praised. He was bestowed the French Order of Merit of The First Degree in recognition of excellent work developing UAE’s international relationships. Sultan Rashed Al Dhaheri (UAE) Sultan Al Dhaheri, who recently announced a US$1 million donation to the Masdar Institute, was acknowledged by the Abu Dhabi Awards for his philanthropy. Following the fine example set by, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Sultan Rashed Al Dhaheri has devoted his life to helping those less fortunate than himself through a series of kind acts and the provision of better education for the poor. Born in Al Ain in 1932 he has demonstrated a remarkable instinct to supporting the nation’s youngsters through better educational facilities in order that they are able to pursue their dreams and contribute useful skills to their country. This work has been driven by his own belief that he should give back to the country where he has been raised and educated. His outstanding charitable work has seen him support education initiatives throughout the Emirate and beyond. An advocate for scholarship, Mr Al Dhaheri, an FNC member for Abu Dhabi, pays school and university fees for deserving students and last year made a Dh10 million endowment to Zayed University for appointing a chair in Islamic finance. Providing much-needed annual financial support to numerous students, funding their tuition is incredibly selfless, yet many people are unaware of tireless efforts to improve the education and lives of young people. That is why it is so fantastic that his work has been recognised by the Abu Dhabi Awards. Celebrating many achievements his well-deserved award reflects his commitment to supporting orphans, the construction of Mosques and his significant involvement in the establishment of a professorship for Islamic Finance at Zayed University in Abu Dhabi. This altruistic man has also generously donated one million US dollars towards the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program, an outreach program organised by Masdar Institute. His financial backing and personal support will enable young leaders to gain much-needed workplace skills, leadership qualities, benefitting from professional training. Sultan’s inspirational educational initiatives are not confined to the UAE. He has also put great time and effort into supporting education opportunities overseas. He played an instrumental role in the construction of the Azhari Institute in Mokattam and Wadi Natrun in Egypt – each providing sound education for up to 1,200 students. His passionate commitment to ensuring education for all has seen him support projects in India, Africa, Jordan and Syria. There is no stopping Sultan, so the Abu Dhabi Awards simply wanted to show the world’s gratitude for his incredible contributions to education. Dr Taisser Atrak (USA) Dr. Taisser was educated in the USA where he also trained as a doctor. This inspirational man relocated to Abu Dhabi three years ago. In his present role as the Director of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Al Mafraq Hospital Dr. Atrak is highly respected throughout Abu Dhabi. In his chosen field of expertise – Medicine – he has made an invaluable difference to the lives of many children. Indeed his concern for children’s welfare and safety extends far beyond taking an interest in those youngsters who attend his medical practice. Devoting much of his personal time to campaigns that mean a lot to him, he has overseen some successful initiatives that have improved safety standards. His campaign for the safety of children in traffic, at home and at school, has operated successfully since its inception in 2008, providing participants with training for basic first aid (PedFACTS), CPR for families an understanding of child car safety. Promoting safety regulations for children, particularly in vehicles, he launched the Buckle Up campaign to stress the importance of using child safety seats, which may seem obvious, but by this involvement in spreading awareness, many young lives have been saved. His first aid and safety training has helped over 100 nannies and maids in Abu Dhabi, giving them free access to the necessary books and study materials. In 2008 he also helped introduce a number of child safety health initiatives such as the head cooling system for newborns and the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention. In an altruistic manner that the Abu Dhabi Awards hope to promote throughout the nation, he personally funds the training of caregivers of children such as parents, teachers, nannies and bus drivers on child safety – including first aid. Many parents, school teachers, nannies and school bus drivers have taken advantage of his wealth of experience, advice and training, as in a bid to make welfare information accessible to everyone, individuals can attend his lectures and educational workshops free of charge. With his support, many families have benefitted from Dr. Taisser’s campaigns, which have helped to save the lives of children when unexpected incidents require a rapid first aid response. Working tirelessly to improve the knowledge of and increase awareness of safety systems, his professional efforts combined with a personal passion to help children have been instrumental in the protection of thousands of children across the Emirate. Always putting others before himself in a bid to safeguard the nation, he has trained hundreds of the emirate’s residents on life-saving techniques and first aid for children. Dr. Taisser’s contributions to health and safety make his a very well-entitled recipient of a prestigious Abu Dhabi Award. Al Sayed Abdulla Al Sayed Al Hashimi (UAE) Dedicating his life and work to public service for the greater good, throughout his years of service Al Sayed Abdulla Al Sayed Al Hashemi, also known as Al Sayed Al Oud, (or the Senior Sayed), has contributed to public life with great sincerity, huge determination and a remarkable commitment. His initiative is testament to a remarkable modest man who asks for no recognition of his good deeds. Educated and raised with a firm moral outlook, in a family of religious scholars, Al Sayed Abdulla’s father Al Sayed Mohamed Al Sayed Al Hashimi was a respected judge and religious scholar and instilled values of honesty in his son. As an advisor to the Rulers of the Emirate, Al Sayed Abdulla has witnessed the various stages of Abu Dhabi’s development since the discovery of oil, firstly for the late Shaikh Shakhboot Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and later for the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Upon the late Shaikh Zayed’s succession, Al Sayed Abdulla worked as a personal advisor to the Ruler. As the appointed Director of Shaikh Zayed’s Private Department, he played an influential part in the financial and administrative procedures and management of the late Shaikh Zayed’s palaces, farms, personnel, procurement and employee salaries. He also organised a number of construction and development projects funded by Shaikh Zayed including Hajj and Umrah. Every project Al Sayed Abdulla Al Sayed Al Hashimi has been involved in, he has thrown himself into with quiet determination and now the Abu Dhabi Awards are able to give him credit for the outstanding difference he has made to public services.