Sheikha Bodour's social, economic, and cultural contributions recognized during a ceremony organized by Dubai Quality Group

Bodour Al Qasimi: The UAE has given me a lot, and I will continue to work and give back some of what it has already given me

Sharjah, 30 May 2012 - Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation, Chairman of Emirates Group and Honorary Patron of Dubai Quality Group (DQG) honoured Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Chairperson of Al Qasba Development Authority and Deputy Chairperson of Sharjah Ladies Club, for her social, economic and cultural contributions.

Amani Al Ali, Manager of the Executive Office of Sheikha Bodour Bint Sultan Al Qasimi, received the honour on behalf of Sheikha Bodour during the closing ceremony of the ninth edition of the Emirates Women Award (EWA), which was held at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Dubai. Sheikh Ahmed also honoured the winners of the 2012 EWA Award during the ceremony, organized by the Dubai Quality Group.

During the ceremony, a documentary was shown on the outstanding social and cultural contributions of Sheikha Bodour throughout her career and professional life, as well as on the great achievements of the EWA Award during its current and previous editions, in the presence of a large number of businesswomen.

Speaking on the occasion, Sheikha Bodour said, "The Emirates Women Award stands out as a concrete evidence of the ability of the Emirati woman to effectively engage in the development of her country and public life. The Award serves as a strong incentive to press ahead with plans aiming to develop the role of women in line with the directives of our wise leadership which consider the woman as a key pillar in the march of development and progress."    

She lauded and highly appreciated the great achievements made by the Award over the past 10 years, and stressed that the UAE has always supported women, stating that the credit for this, as ever, goes to the UAE's wise leadership, which continues to encourage cutting-edge ways of doing business, and support creativity and innovation.

Considering the honor as an incentive for more work, Sheikha Bodour said: "The UAE has given me a lot and I pledge to continue to work faithfully and dedicatedly to give it back something of what it has already given me."

The honor is a new feather to be added to Sheikha Bodour's cap of outstanding achievements in the cultural, economic and social arenas, and a direct result of her concerted efforts to contribute richly to promoting Arabic culture. She is President of the Emirates Publishers Association, and the UAE Board on the Books for Young People (UAEBBY), the national charter of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY), which was established in 2009 upon an initiative by Sheikha Bodour. UAEBBY officially came into being in 2010, following IBBY's approval.

Sheikha Bodour also launched the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature, which is an international award given annually to the best Arabic-language book for children, followed by her initiative of establishing the Sharjah IBBY Fund which aims to promote a love of reading among children in the region of Central Asia and North Africa whose lives have been disrupted through war, civil disorders, or natural disasters.

Sheikha Bodour also supervises the "Knowledge without Borders" project in her capacity as Head of the Organizing Committee of the project which was launched under the directives of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah to provide a library in each home. In addition, she established Kalimat as the first publishing house dedicated to publishing and distributing high-quality Arabic language books for children. Sheikh Bodour is also Chairperson of Shurooq, and since 2005, she serves as Chairperson of Al Qasba, the premier tourist, leisure and cultural destination in Sharjah.

Since she became Deputy Chairperson of Sharjah Ladies Club Sheikha Bodour has spared no effort to promote the club's social and sport role in the emirate of Sharjah and the UAE, as well as being Head of the Sharjah Baby-Friendly Emirate Campaign.

-Ends-

For more information please contact:
Yousef Al Taweel
Sahara Communications
E-mail: yousuf@saharagcc.com
Mobile: 050 556 25 20

Fadia Daouk
Sahara Communications
E-mail:fadia@saharagcc.com
Mobile: 050 538 39 73

© Press Release 2012