Estesmarat Magazine has chosen Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri, Director General of Abu Dhabi Government Media Office and Chief Executive Officer of Media Zone Authority – Abu Dhabi (MZA) and twofour54, as the Top Arab Pioneer of 2017 in Media.

The prestigious award from the UAE-based business publication recognizes Her Excellency’s role and achievements in supporting government efforts to attract investment to the emirate, specifically in the media industry. It also reflects her efforts to help grow the media sector in Abu Dhabi, which is today home to hundreds of local, regional and international companies operating across the entire spectrum of media, from filmmakers to publishers, app developers, and marketing and communications firms.

Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri said: “I am very proud to be receiving this Arab Pioneer award from Estesmarat Magazine. It is particularly poignant for me as this is the Year of Zayed, which celebrates the wisdom and values our Founding Father, who was the pioneer of a whole nation.”

Her Excellency added: “Our mission at twofour54 is to develop a thriving media ecosystem in Abu Dhabi and attracting investment is one of the building blocks of that goal.

“We are committed to working with all government departments to create an environment that supports and nurtures the interests of investors, both from the UAE and abroad, and values their contribution to developing a strong, diversified economy.”

As the CEO of MZA, Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri is responsible for leading its strategic agenda to build a sustainable media industry that contributes to the economic and cultural development of Abu Dhabi, as well as positioning the emirate as a regional media hub. Through media free zone twofour54, she also plays a leading role in increasing engagement and collaboration between the government and private sectors, and encourages public-private partnerships.

Last month, Her Excellency was also appointed Director General of the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office, which works with government departments to develop and implement media policies and plans.

Mohammed Shams Al-Din, Editor-in-Chief of Estesmarat Magazine, and Executive Chairman and Founder of Telal international Group, said: “Her Excellency Maryam Eid AlMheiri is an example to everyone in the media industry. Through her work with entities such as MZA and twofour54, she plays a key role in developing media skills and expertise across both the public and private sectors, helping to transform Abu Dhabi into a hub for content creation. We are delighted to choose her as the recipient of this year’s Media Arab Pioneer Award.”