Major Cultural Award in Arab World Announces Winners

Mohamed Benaissa Honoured With 2008 Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Cultural
Personality of the Year
Awards Recognise Contributions to Scholarship and Creative Development in
Arabic Literature at Ceremony in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, UAE, March 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Moroccan Minister and
Ambassador to the United States, Mohamed Benaissa has been named Cultural
Personality of the Year in the 2008 Sheikh Zayed Book Award, walking away
with a prize of one million UAE dirham.

Benaissa was recognised for his unique contribution to Arabic culture
and the pioneering role he played in founding the Asilah Festival for arts,
culture and thought at an award ceremony attended by Deputy Crown Prince
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, an independent award conferred by the Abu
Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, recognises significant
contributions to Arabic culture in nine diverse categories and is designed
to help foster scholarship and creative development in Arabic culture.

Winners in six other categories were also celebrated for their
achievements in fostering cultural development in the Arab World at the
event in the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi on March 12.

Established in 1978, the Asilah Arts Festival is renowned the world
over as a platform for artists to showcase their works and share ideas. The
festival, held annually in Morocco, is an annual cultural extravaganza
which attracts both studio and performing artists from all over the world,
transforming Morocco into a cultural forum.

Other winners honoured at the ceremony this year were:

- Ibrahim Al Kouni of Libya - Literature

- Huda Al Shawa of Kuwait - Children's Literature

- Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research - Best Publisher-
Distributor

- Dr. Faiz Assayagh of Jordan - Translation

- Rifat Chadirji of Iraq - Architecture

- Dr Mohamed Saadi of Morocco - Young Author

Rashed Al Ureimi, Secretary General of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Committee said: 'I would like to congratulate all of the winners for their
contributions to culture in the region and beyond. The quality of the work
we have looked at this year was extremely high.'

Benaissa was awarded one million UAE dirham (around GBP140,000) by the
Sheikh Zayed Book Award Committee in recognition of his individual
achievement with the other winners each receiving 750,000 dirham (around
GBP105,000) for their contributions to culture.

The 2008 Sheikh Zayed Book Awards attracted participation from many
well-known personalities in the Arab cultural arena. The Award Committee
evaluated a total of 512 works from more than 1,200 nominated across the
nine award categories, which represented submissions from more than 30
countries.

Notes to Editors:

About the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Cultural Personality of the Year

The award is given to a prominent culture figure, Arab or
international, who has made a clear contribution to the enrichment of Arab
culture, creatively or intellectually, and that his/her work or activities
embody the values of originality, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.

About the Sheikh Zayed Book Award Supreme Advisory and Advisory
Committees

The Award Supreme Committee is presided by Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al
Nahyan, president of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, and
includes Zaki Nassiba, Advisor for the Presidency Office and vice-president
of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage; Mohammed Khalaf Al
Mazrouei, General Manager of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and
Heritage; Jumaa Al-Qubeissi, Director of National Books Unit of the
Authority; Mr. Juergen Boos, Director of the Frankfurt International Book
Fair; and Turky Al Dakhail , media personality and author.

In its 2007-2008 session, the Award Advisory Committee includes an
elite of local and Arabic cultural figures. In addition to Mr. Rashed Al
Ureimi, a member and the Secretary General, the committee comprises Dr. Ali
Rashed Al Noaimi of the United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates author
Mohammed Al Mor, Dr. Abdallah Al Gadami of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Radwan Al
Sayed of Lebanon, Dr. Salah Fadl of Egypt, Sheikha Mai Khalifa of Bahrain,
Algerian novelist Waciny Laredj and Dr. Said Ben Said Alaoui of Morocco.

About the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is a
government institution in charge of safeguarding, conserving and promoting
the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi. The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture
and Heritage is administered by a Board of Directors chaired by H. E.
Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan.



SOURCE Sheikh Zayed Book Award