Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum today honoured the winners of the 17th Arab Journalism Award at a ceremony held at the conclusion of the Arab Media Forum (AMF) 2018.

Deputy Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain His Excellency Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa; Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended the Award ceremony that took place today in Dubai.

Secretary General of the Arab Journalism Award and Chairperson of the Organising Committee of the AMF Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri; and Chairman of the Board of the Arab Journalism Award Diaa Rashwan also attended the ceremony, apart from a large number of prominent media figures and Arab journalists. 

The award ceremony started with a short video about recent key events that were covered by Arab media.

Emirati singer Hussein Al Jassmi sang a song about Al Quds, whose lyrics were written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He also sang a song based on a poem written by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in memory of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. 

The Arab Journalism Award honoured 14 outstanding Arab journalists. The winners represented daily newspapers, magazines, online web portals and media organisations from the Arab world.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the Adviser to His Majesty the King of Bahrain for Media Affairs Nabil bin Yaqoob Al Hamar with the Media Personality of the Year award. A special recognition award was also presented to the family of the late Ibrahim Nafaa, former editor-in-chief of Al Ahram, former chairperson of the Arab Journalists Association and former Chairman of the Arab Journalism Award jury.

His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed honoured Egyptian writer Saleh Mountaser with the Best Column Award.

Other winners of the Arab Journalism Award include:

Political Journalism Award: Al Bayan newspaper.

Investigative Reporting Award: Sid Ali Mohafdah from Al Bilad newspaper, Bahrain.

Cultural Journalism Award: Mohammed Riyadh from Al Watan newspaper, Egypt.

Humanitarian Journalism Award: Asmaa Shalabi from Al Youm7 newspaper, Egypt.

Press Interview Award: Shakir Nouri, Asharq Al Awsat

Sports Journalism Award: Mourad Al Masri from Al-Ittihad newspaper.

Photojournalism Award: Ahmed Gharbali from Agence France-Presse.

Outstanding Cartoonist Award: Mahir Rashwan, Aljareeda newspaper, Kuwait.

Young Journalist Award: Jihad Abbas and Mohammed Allaithi from Al Watan newspaper, Egypt; and Douaa Al Fouli from Masrawi newspaper.

This year, the Award’s General Secretariat received over 5,874 submissions from journalists from across the Arab world.