Nominations open for Abu Dhabi Awards 2013

Your chance to nominate your community heroes

Abu Dhabi, April 22, 2013: The Abu Dhabi Awards Organizing Committee officially announced the start of the nomination period for Abu Dhabi Awards 2013.

This year, the public is being urged to nominate more than one person in their own community and to think of unsung everyday heroes. People can nominate anyone for an Abu Dhabi Award who they believe have selflessly made a positive impact on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Nominations can be done by:

• visiting the Abu Dhabi Awards website www.abudhabiawards.ae
• visiting the dedicated stands and drop-boxes across Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain city and the Western Region
• posting a completed nomination form to PO Box 44442, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Everyone is encouraged to nominate people who have contributed to building and supporting Abu Dhabi, regardless of age, nationality or gender. This includes Abu Dhabi citizens, residents and non-residents whose good deeds have benefited the Emirate, as well as Abu Dhabi citizens performing good deeds internationally. There are no specific categories from which recipients are chosen, anyone whose good deeds have made outstanding contributions to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and anyone who is doing a good deed for the benefit of the Emirate can be nominated and honored.

Nominations have opened on April 21 and will run to May 31 with all the latest information at www.abudhabiawards.ae where people can also submit a nomination online.

Previous recipients have spoken about the honour of winning the previous Abu Dhabi Awards as the nomination period for 2013 opens and encourage everyone to participate during the nomination period.

At the age of just ten, Abdul Muqeet Abdul Mannan became the youngest ever recipient in 2011 following his environmental work in reducing plastic bag usage by creating bags from old newspapers.

“It is fantastic that the Abu Dhabi Awards are starting again and I will be nominating along with all my family and friends,“ said the schoolboy, who is from India.

“It is a huge honour and I cannot wait to see who receives an award this year.”

Dr. Taisser Atrak was also a 2011 recipient for his work in paediatrics in Abu Dhabi and for raising an awareness campaign for the wellbeing of children and those who care for them.

“It was a very proud occasion when I received an Abu Dhabi Award and this year I urge as many people as possible to get involved – it is a truly magnificent project for the whole of Abu Dhabi,” he said.

Since being launched in 2005, there have been 56 Abu Dhabi Award recipients. Previous recipients made outstanding contributions in areas such as environmental conservation, caring for the sick and elderly, promoting arts and culture, supporting charitable causes and philanthropy.

This year the supporting partners are Abu Dhabi Media, Etisalat and Takatof.

Shamma Al-Khazraji, Abu Dhabi Media’s Executive Director of Marketing Communications, commented: “Abu Dhabi Media is committed to supporting our local community, and this commitment is reflected in our support for the Abu Dhabi Awards. The awards are an opportunity to recognize outstanding members of society across our emirate, and with nominations now open, we encourage all members of our community to take part and nominate deserving individuals.”

“With the support and vision of leaders in the UAE, there are many individuals achieving truly great things,” added Etisalat Senior Vice President of Brand and Communication, Ahmed Al Hashemi.

“Abu Dhabi Awards helps put them in the spotlight and we are proud to be a sponsor and will be helping drive nominations up until the end of May.”

Takatof will be providing volunteers throughout Abu Dhabi Awards 2013, an especially important role during the nomination period.

Maytha Al Habsi, the Chief Programme Officer at Emirates Foundation for Youth Development said: “From today our volunteers will be out in the communities helping collect nominations and we are all really enthusiastic about what is happening this year.”

“Our participation this year at the Awards is within our support to national entities and successful initiatives that add a value to the Emirati society.”

Visit www.abudhabiawards.ae for all Abu Dhabi Awards information and the opportunity to nominate online.