His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Honours Winners of Ibda'a Awards 2008 at Gala Ceremony

Outstanding Works of Talented Youngsters on Display at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre

Winners of the Ibda’a Media Student Awards 2008 with H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Abdullatif AlMulla, Group CEO of TECOM Investments

Dubai: 28 November, 2008 – His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented the seventh Ibda'a Media Student Awards at a gala ceremony organised by Dubai Media City (DMC), a member of TECOM Investments, at the DMC Amphitheatre on 27 November.

Abdullatif AlMulla, Group CEO of TECOM Investments, and Dr Amina Alrustamani, CEO of TECOM Business Parks, as well as senior government officials and representatives of leading media organisations and academic institutions, attended the event.

An elite panel of judges from the International Advertising Association – UAE Chapter (IAA-UAE) selected winners in 10 categories, recognising outstanding media talent.

Following is the list of winners in the respective categories:

1. Journalism: Mona Hassan Abou Issa,  MSA - Egypt
2. Radio: Robert Leeroy Lim, Colegio De San Juan De Letran – The Philippines
3. Animation: Hadeil Mahmoud, El Minia University - Egypt
4. Graphic Design: Ganesh Nayak, Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Arts - India
5. Analogue Photography: Muhammad Usman Jamshed, Punjab University - Pakistan
6. Digital Photography: Khawla AlMarzooqi, Sharjah Women’s College- UAE
7. Print Advertising: Rachana Hakani, Sophia Polytechnic - India
8. TV Advertising: Abdulla Bufaroosha, Dubai Men’s College - UAE
9. TV Documentary: Norah Samy Farahat, MSA - Egypt
10. TV/ Feature: Roqiye Tavakoli, Sooreh University - Iran

Additionally, an award for the ‘Best UAE Project’ from submissions of UAE-based university students was presented to Fatima Saleh, Sharjah Women’s College - UAE.

This year, Ibda’a Awards received more than 2,200 entries from 25 countries including new entrants representing Brazil, Poland, Sri Lanka and Sudan.

Dr Amina Al Rustamani, CEO, TECOM Business Parks, said:

This unique initiative of Dubai Media City is part of our commitment to bring together and create synergy between media industry leaders and fresh talent. We are delighted to witness the Ibda’a Media Awards emerge as a professional and credible platform for nurturing innovative industry talent. The awards also reflect the commitment of regional media giants to promote indigenous and international creativity.

Mohamed Al Mulla, Coordinator General of the Ibda’a Media Awards, said:

The seventh edition of the Ibda’a Awards registered an overwhelming response with creative and innovative works submitted from across the world, including the UAE. Talented youngsters who have won the awards and those shortlisted gain immediate industry recognition that will lead to promising careers with top tier media organisations.

The Ibda’a Media Awards has significantly expanded its appeal to elicit response from several regions and the number of entries exceeding 2,200 justifies its prestigious status. We believe the awards will firmly position Dubai among key global media destinations while drawing budding talent to this region.

The 2008 Ibda’a winners were awarded attractive prizes including internships with leading global media brands such as CNN, Arabian Radio Network (ARN), Xische Studios, Team Young & Rubicam, Motivate Publishing, Nikon, Leo Burnett, Saatchi & Saatchi, CNBC and MBC.

Ziad Abdulla Galadari, Chairman, Galadari & Associates and Ziad Galadari Group, said:

We share a common vision with Dubai Media City in discovering, showcasing and fostering young media talent, a reason that has primarily motivated us to participate as presenting sponsors of the Ibda’a Media Student Awards for the second consecutive year. All the entries demonstrate ingenuity and innovation, which indicates the event has evolved into an effective platform for identifying and nurturing some of the world’s most promising creative talent.

The Galadari Group congratulates all participants and finalists in this year’s edition of the Ibda’a Media Student Awards. We are confident these young stars will eventually achieve their ambitious career aspirations.

The works of finalists are showcased in a week-long exhibition that will run until 29 November at the Dubai Media City Amphitheatre.

Since its launch in June 2001 to discover, showcase and foster young media talent, the Ibda'a Media Student Awards have to date been presented to 57 winners. The initiative is organised annually by Dubai Media City in partnership with the International Advertising Association – UAE Chapter (IAA - UAE) and presenting sponsor Ziad Galadari Group.  Ibda’a Awards 2008 was co-sponsored by AW Rostamani, DMI, Emirates NBD Bank, and OMD.

Notes to Editors

About Dubai Media City

Strategically located at the crossroads of the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, Dubai Media City is rapidly emerging as the region's media hub.  The City provides an advanced infrastructure for media-related businesses to operate globally out of Dubai.  Dubai Media City is the place where activities Publishing, Music, Film, New Media, Leisure & Entertainment, Broadcasting, Media & Marketing Services, and Information Agencies will thrive. The facility offers an environment that allows companies and individuals to operate with collective synergy and freedom.

Companies based in Dubai Media City have the unique edge of commercial benefits derived from our free zone status including 100 % business ownership and exemption from personal income and corporate taxes. Since its official opening in January 2001, Dubai Media City has grown to become a thriving media community of over 1200 companies and hundreds of freelance media professionals. Several global media giants and promising entrepreneurial ventures have joined this unique community.

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