RPTC to confer award on Hariri next month

The biennial Award was launched in 1994 by Rashid Paediatric Therapy centre (RPTC) to honour benevolent Arab personalities who have a history of philanthropic achievements.

A delegation, representing Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of RPTC, President of the Dubai Department of Civil Aviation and Chairman of Emirates Group, has flown to Beirut to deliver the invitation to Hariri’s family to attend the special honouring ceremony scheduled for June 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The delegation headed by Shaikh Juma bin Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Member and Representative of the RPTC, comprised Mariam Osman, Director of the centre and other board members who met Nazik Al Hariri, widow of Rafik Al Hariri. Mrs. Hariri hailed the gesture and thanked Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed and the UAE people for their recognition of the humanitarian deeds of her late husband.

Announcing the award at a press conference last month, Shaikh Ahmed said that it was a gesture of gratitude, appreciation and affection of the people of the UAE for a historical personality who will always be remembered at the local and international levels, and whose contributions would stand as a witness of his solid and great determination in the good service of all humanity.

The selection of Al Hariri as the Humanitarian Personality for 2004 was done unanimously by the committee members following his brutal assassination on February 14 this year, setting a record in the award’s history which is usually chosen by public voting or nomination by designated bodies throughout the Arab world.

Among the numerous humanitarian achievements of Al Hariri is the Hariri Foundation which he established in 1979.