The secret behind the success of Dubai is that there is a place for everyone in this wonderful city. Like millions of people around the world, I also moved to live and work in this city more than a decade ago. I found it a welcoming and tolerant place.
Innovators, adventurers, beginners, people searching for a space to express themselves, young people, seniors, men, women, they all perceive Dubai as a city of success that makes expatriates feel at home.
Despite our various doubts that Dubai could not fulfil its promises due to the challenging issues of journalism, the city succeeded in emerging as a regional media hub.
Every year, the Arab Media Forum is held in Dubai and features a journalism award. This year, I have been honored by the forum with the “Media Personality of the Year Award,” which was handed to me by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum.
I must admit that this award is the result of collective work in television, print and digital journalism. It must be accredited to all whom I have worked with. These lines are not enough for me to pay tribute to them all.
Some of them have lost their lives in the line of duty. Back then, our profession was not an ordinary job framed by ethical competition. I shall dedicate this award to all those who lost their lives to journalism or suffered because of it, like my friend Jawad Kazem who survived an attempt on his life.
Some journalists were kidnapped and imprisoned like Baker Atyani and Wael Issam, while others risked their lives beyond borders chasing the unknown. Many colleagues are behind all this success and deserve to be honored with this award. Journalism is a tough job and we go through years of struggle and hard work without being recognized.
I feel privileged and grateful for Sheikh Mohammad’s appreciation and for this media award, not because it was my first in 41 years of journalism but because I consider it a gesture toward people like me who believe in modernization and insist in using media tools to create a positive change in our region that deserves better.
Innovators, adventurers, beginners, people searching for a space to express themselves, young people, seniors, men, women, they all perceive Dubai as a city of success that makes expatriates feel at home.
Despite our various doubts that Dubai could not fulfil its promises due to the challenging issues of journalism, the city succeeded in emerging as a regional media hub.
Every year, the Arab Media Forum is held in Dubai and features a journalism award. This year, I have been honored by the forum with the “Media Personality of the Year Award,” which was handed to me by UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed Al-Maktoum.
I must admit that this award is the result of collective work in television, print and digital journalism. It must be accredited to all whom I have worked with. These lines are not enough for me to pay tribute to them all.
Some of them have lost their lives in the line of duty. Back then, our profession was not an ordinary job framed by ethical competition. I shall dedicate this award to all those who lost their lives to journalism or suffered because of it, like my friend Jawad Kazem who survived an attempt on his life.
Some journalists were kidnapped and imprisoned like Baker Atyani and Wael Issam, while others risked their lives beyond borders chasing the unknown. Many colleagues are behind all this success and deserve to be honored with this award. Journalism is a tough job and we go through years of struggle and hard work without being recognized.
I feel privileged and grateful for Sheikh Mohammad’s appreciation and for this media award, not because it was my first in 41 years of journalism but because I consider it a gesture toward people like me who believe in modernization and insist in using media tools to create a positive change in our region that deserves better.
