In a ceremony held here on Tuesday evening, Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and UAE Minister of Finance, honored Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union and President of the Family Development Foundation who was named “Distinguished Personality of the Year” by the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for the Distinguished Academic Performance.

The award was received on behalf of Shaikha Fatima by Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, Minister of State and Chair of the Marriage Fund.
The ceremony was attended by a number of Shaikh ministers, senior officials, as well as Mr. Eric Falt, Assistant Director General for External Relations and Public Information at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) and Dr Ali bin Abdul Khaliq Al Qarni, General Director, Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States.
In his speech, Shaikh Hamdan praised the achievements attained by the prudent leadership under the auspices of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates.
“In this context, the tireless efforts of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak are very obvious. She led the women in the UAE with energy and perseverance. Her initiatives in the field of women’s education has profound impact in enabling them to meet their national duties, and to be integrated with the man, prompting the mobility of development towards the comprehensive renaissance,” he added.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by Dr Maitha Al Shamsi, Shaikha Fatima thanked the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Distinguished Academic Performance, which has become a methodology of innovation in educational, academic and scientific innovation fields.
She expressed appreciation to Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, and Patron of the Award, and to all contributing to the success of this award.
Education Minister Humaid Mohammed Obaid Al Qattami  expressed pleasure at the nomination of Shaikha Fatima for the Award for Distinguished Academic Performance. He underlined the achievements of continued successes of the Hamdan Award over the years, constituting the reasons lying behind the earned global status, which, before this, founded the ABCs of perfection.
He said that the12th Asia-Pacific Conference for Giftedness ‘Giftedness 2012’ will be held in July under the auspices of the Hamdan Award. It is an important educational event to be hosted by the UAE, and the first to be organized at the regional and Arab levels. The minister thanked Shaikh Hamdan for the generous sponsorship, and wise instructions.
“In conclusion, we will not forget to congratulate the winners from within and outside the country and tell them that the horizons of our award are limitless, and the coronation stage will continue to be renewed for innovators who wish to continue to succeed and achieve excellence,” he added. —