Sports
150 Grade 12 top scorers honoured
150 Grade 12 top scorers honoured Olivia Olarte-Ulherr (olivia@khaleejtimes.com) / 18 July 2013 Being handicapped was not an obstacle for Reem Saif Al Dhahouri, 19, for excelling in her studies. With 96 per cent as her final grade, the student of Salma bint Qais topped the literature stream in Sharjah and was among the 150 Grade 12 top achievers across the UAE who were honoured on Tuesday by Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Presidential Affairs and Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec). “I am so happy, I cannot describe my feelings,” said Umm Reem who described her daughter as studious. The new graduate, who was afflicted with polio from birth, said she did not face any difficulty in school despite her condition. “Everything was fine,” Reem, who was the third among seven siblings, said. The Emirati student hopes to continue her studies in multimedia, majoring in web design, at Sharjah University. “I am very proud of our top performing students who stand amongst us today. They worked very hard and proved to themselves and to the UAE leaders that our youth is more than capable and ready to take part in challenging situations,” said Shaikh Mansour. Speaking on behalf of her peers during the ceremony, Alanood Mohammed Al Ameri, described their 12-year educational journey as “beautiful yet full of challenges and obstacles.” “This is our first building block … the first journey of a thousand miles. We are optimistic of the future. We promise to be the lanterns that you will see shine as you are our example,” Alannod said of Shaikh Mansour. Sarah Rashed Al Seridy, 15, from Fujairah accompanied her sister at the honouring ceremony. Ruwaya, 17, scored 99.4 per cent in the science stream and is the seventh topper in the UAE and third in Fujairah. “I feel very happy and I am proud of her. Her efforts have finally paid off. She received scholarship to study in the UAE University from Shaikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum (Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance),” Sarah said. The Grade 12 Emirati and expatriate students who achieved a minimum score of 98 per cent from across public schools and the Institutes of Applied Technology, were offered certificates of appreciation for their successful achievement. Emirati special needs top performers, who achieved 95 per cent and above were also honoured on Tuesday. In addition, they each received Dh20,000 from the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan while 20 scholarship grants at Abu Dhabi University were offered by Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region. “Thanks to the limitless support to education by our UAE leaders, our students are receiving some of the world’s top educational systems, which results in creating a generation of high achieving students,” commended Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, director general of Adec. Continue reading
Dubai Quran Award initial tests begin
Dubai Quran Award initial tests begin Ahmed Shaaban (ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com) / 18 July 2013 Eight of the 89 contestants participating in the 17th session of the Dubai International Quran Award sat for their qualifying tests in public at 10.30pm on Tuesday at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The contestants hailed from Nigeria, Qatar, Bosnia, Mali, Canada, India, Côte d’Ivoire and Thailand. Eight other contestants from Chad, Indonesia, Rwanda, Oman, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Macedonia, and the Philippines participated on Wednesday. One of the contestants, Haruna Mohammed (19) from Nigeria recited the Holy Quran in the Hafs Rewaya (a school of recitation) in a professional way, yet he was alerted for minor mistakes. Ibrahim Bu Melha, head of the Award Organising Committee, said all contestants have already arrived in the country. “All participants need to first pass the initial qualifying tests to be eligible for reaching the final stage.” Bu Melha, who is also adviser to the Ruler of Dubai for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, said the youngest participant at the award this year is an 11-year-old. “The award has also for the first time ever seen a contestant from Norway this year.” Meanwhile, three panels of judges have been assigned for the competition. “The first panel will look after the initial qualifying tests to check upon memorisers’ performance whereas the second, the primary one, is to supervise final tests and the third — including two Emiratis, will decide on the most melodious voices.” Shaikh Ibrahim Al Akhdhar, head of the five-member arbitration committee, on Tuesday said all memorisers are examined twice a day; in the morning and evening. “Contestants are advised to be focused when answering all questions, pay due attention to the rules of recitation, and to recite verse by verse at a reasonable speed.” He added that a quarter mark is deducted against each and every recitation and memorisation mistake. “However, one full mark is deducted if a contestant is alerted three times about something wrong. Memorisers are also instructed to stop recitation when alerted by a bell ring.” Though voice recorders are allowed, participants are warned against carrying cellphones and headsets. Also the audience is urged to switch off their mobile phones or put them on silent, and avoid side talks so as not to distract the contestants. The 11-category award, which is aimed at serving the Holy Quran and promoting the general standard of the Quranic performance, has contacted over 160 countries to participate in the competition which is held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. “Big prizes await toppers: the first winner will be awarded Dh250,000, the second will get 200,000, and the third 150,000. Winners from the fourth to the tenth are gifted Dh65,000 – Dh5,000 less each. The rest of the participants get Dh30,000 each,” he said. Continue reading
Liwa Dates Festival kicks off today
Liwa Dates Festival kicks off today Silvia Radan (silvia@khaleejtimes.com) / 18 July 2013 The ninth Liwa Dates Festival kicks off today in Mazeirah, the main town of Liwa oasis. In the morning, judges will be visiting the first competitors’ farms and inspecting their palm trees, while in the evening, from 8pm, the doors of the air conditioned tent will open to the public with the winners of the first round announced on Friday. This will be the format of this year’s festival, which, for the first time, falls during Ramadan. After Iftar and until 1am, visitors will get to sample the competing ratab (fresh, half-ripen dates), enjoy traditional shows, kids’ competitions, have a look at the exhibition featuring organisations representing dates and farming in general, and enjoy a bit of shopping in the Emirati souk. The dates competition itself, as well as the mango and lemon one will give away prizes totalling Dh5 million to the top 15 winners in each category, which include seven different varieties of dates. Since the festival falls during the holy month of Ramadan, a special atmosphere is expected, which will largely be created by the traditional souk. The 160 shops, which will financially benefit 306 Emirati families, will give an insight into the lives and traditions of this land’s ancestors. “The traditional market is a special event that reveals before the curious eyes of interested tourists our local heritage, which is rich in handicrafts related to the palm tree and dates. The visitors will find in the souk a model of the flourishing oasis decorated with palm leaves that are meticulously woven. They will have a chance to discover all products related to the lives of simple Bedouin families, such as Al Sadu — a traditional form of weaving — and knitting,” explained Obaid Khalfan Al Mazrouei, director of the festival. Al Surood (a round mat made of palm leaves), Al Mukhrafa and Al Jahfeer (two baskets made of palm leaves), floor mats, Al Meshab (a table-mat made of palm leaves), Al Yrab (a large bag made of palm leaves and used to conserve dry dates), along with pastries made of dates and all varieties of ratab will be up for sale. “The market includes a number of majlis — traditional meeting places — that will be shared by women artisans to display their products. This will give visitors the opportunity to discover the splendour of the traditional products made by a group of Emirati mothers,” said Al Mazrouei. The majlis area is also an opportunity for younger girls to learn the art of handicraft making from their elders. The festival will continue until July 25. Buses from Abu Dhabi and Al Ain to the festival grounds are available. Continue reading
