Abu Dhabi Awards receives record individual nominations

The number of individuals nominated for an Abu Dhabi Award this year has broken all previous records, it was announced yesterday.

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Awards 2015 nomination campaign received 36,404 nominations, of which 22,452 were unique.

The unique nominations, which set a new record, reflect the number of individuals nominated for Abu Dhabi's highest civilian honour. The figure is higher than in any year since the Awards were launched 10 years ago.

Nominations came from a broader demographic than in previous years too; a total of 135 nationalities took part in the nomination process this year, up from 117 nationalities in 2013.

Organisers believe an increase in online nominations has helped boost public participation this year, with people more enthusiastic than ever to see their selfless community heroes rewarded.

The Abu Dhabi Awards was inaugurated in 2005 to celebrate individuals who have selflessly contributed their time to build and support the community of Abu Dhabi. This year's campaign marks the milestone 10th anniversary of the prestigious Award, which has so far been awarded to a total of 63 recipients.

A spokesperson for the Abu Dhabi Awards committee said, "It's really heart-warming to see such strong enthusiasm for the Abu Dhabi Awards. People from all walks of life are very keen to see the selfless acts of their fellow citizens recognised and rewarded. It is particularly encouraging to see more of the country's youth getting involved with the Awards, nominating people they consider to have made a positive difference in their schools, universities and communities to receive this prestigious honour."

The seven-week nomination period for the Abu Dhabi Awards 2015 was from May 10th to June 27th, 2015. The committee arranged visits to schools to help create a better understanding of how to nominate someone online through the Abu Dhabi Awards website, which increased overall youth participation.

The Awards recognise those members of the community who through their good deeds have made a difference to the lives of people in Abu Dhabi. Anyone considered to have made a positive contribution to Abu Dhabi's community can be nominated for an Award – regardless of their age, gender or nationality. Even someone who lives overseas is eligible, as long as they have added to the goodness of the community in Abu Dhabi.

The Awards' official partners, Etisalat and Abu Dhabi Media, played a vital role in the success of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Awards campaign.

Fares Hamad Fares, Etisalat's Vice President Corporate Communications, said, "As always, being part of the Abu Dhabi Awards journey is hugely rewarding for us. It truly helps drive goodness and positive acts across Abu Dhabi."

Hend Al Otaiba, Director of Strategic Communications at Abu Dhabi Media, said, "It has been 10 years since the Abu Dhabi Awards was launched, and in that time it has become a beacon of positivity across the emirate, fostering a sense of community spirit and highlighting the often unrecognised good work being carried out by ordinary citizens.

"We look forward to the announcement of the 2015 recipients."

The screening process to assess all the nominations is now under way and will continue through the next few months. The Abu Dhabi Awards 2015 recipients will be announced during a ceremony that will take place in the coming months.

The Abu Dhabi Awards is a biennial ceremony that honours and recognises individuals who have contributed to building a greater sense of community and social welfare within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Source: WAM