Dubai, June 3, 2012

His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority presented the Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 'Friends of the Arts' award to Sharaf DG on 9th April 2012 at an awards ceremony held at the Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Hotel.

The Emirati electronics retail company received the prestigious recognition as 'Friends of the Arts' for their commitment and support to the 4th edition of Documentary Voices' women empowerment initiative in November 2011. The Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards are an initiative of the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, honoring and recognizing individuals, businesses or organizations that have demonstrated financial or in kind contributions to the arts in Dubai through sustained support and promotion of artistic activity.

Sharaf DG is a staunch supporter for women's emancipation initiatives. Mr. Yasser Sharaf, MD, Sharaf DG echoed the company's motto of understanding the necessity of taking corporate social responsibility seriously, "At Sharaf DG, taking a step towards women empowerment, isn't just about doing the right thing. It means behaving responsibly towards our employees especially women and towards society. We actively support local charities and events aimed towards empowering women and students. Some of our past activities include women's week where we provided free medical check-ups, grooming tips, etc. We have also had a dedicated Facebook page called 'Women's Wednesdays' which catered to electronics only for women. More recently, we celebrated Women's Day and Mother's Day honoring the women in our families, not only at our stores but also on our Facebook page".

"Documentaries are a powerful means to convey interpretations of civilization", says Mahshid Zamani, Founder and Managing Director of Documentary Voices. "I chose the theme of women's empowerment as it has a lasting influence on our community as society evolves and traditional roles take on a different definition", she further added. "The films that covered the regions of France, UAE, Iran and Afghanistan captured deep emotions and reflection on the part of our audiences. As the Region's leading film education platform, this is exactly what we are committed to in our future line-up; social awareness through film education", confirms Zamani. 
     
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About Documentary Voices:
Launched by His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2008, 'Documentary Voices' is a cutting-edge programme of documentary film producing, screenings, panel discussions, and workshops designed to develop and empower filmmakers while informing the public. The initiative highlights perspectives on culture, society and community development. The Master Class recently conducted by legendary actor Behrouz Vossoughi in April 2012 was the second filmmaking master class organized by 'Documentary Voices'. The first one in April 2011 was led by Maestro Abbas Kiarostami in collaboration with the Gulf Film Festival (GFF). www.documentaryvoices.com

About Sharaf DG:
Sharaf DG, a part of the Sharaf Group, is a whole new concept in Electronics Retailing in the UAE conceived to meet the growing demands of the discerning customer. The stores in Ibn Batutta Mall, Deira City Center and Times Square Center are designed to international standards is a benchmark in store sophistication and customer friendly design.

Sharaf DG is not just an electronics store, but a new lifestyle experience where customers can find the widest range of brands in the region across categories like Consumer Electronics, Home Entertainment, IT, Telecom, Home Appliances, Marine Electronics and much more.

Sharaf DG has also ventured out into other formats of shopping through its sub-brands: Sharaf DG4U and DG+. While Sharaf DG4U stores are concept stores, smaller than the traditional large-scale 'big box' outlets and designed to stock only the fastest moving models across all electronic and IT product categories, DG+ boutiques on the other hand are chic and sophisticated stores catering to luxury lifestyle seekers.

For further information, please visit http://www.sharafdg.com

For further enquiries and interviews please contact the following:
1. For press interviews (for Sharaf DG): Sayontoni Sarkar, Assistant Marketing Manager, Contact - + (9715) 0 477 0603, sayontonisarkar@sharafdg.com

© Press Release 2012