DUBAI — The Board of Trustees of "MBR Creative Sports Award", one of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, announced the names of winners in the 10th Edition categories of the world’s leading award in terms of value, and diversity of categories.

It is the primary sports award dedicated to inspiring creativity in sports in the UAE, Arab countries, and the worldwide.

The Arab Sports Personality Award was given to Saudi Arabia’s Turki Al-Sheikh for his great efforts as Chairman of GSA, the Saudi Olympic Committee, the Union of Arab Football Associations, and Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation.

He launched several initiatives that contributed to developing sports sector in Saudi Arabia, attracting and organizing international sporting events, as well as developing the Arab sports ecosystem. He also supported the efforts of many Arab countries to strengthen their relations with international sports organizations. Al-Sheikh also developed the Arab Club Championship and named its first edition as Zayed Club Champions.

Khaldoon Khalifa Al-Mubarak received the Local Sports Personality Award as an appreciation of his efforts in many important sports files and for implementing the directives of the wise leadership to strengthen the status of UAE to be in the forefront of the organizers of global sporting events in various sports, in addition to his contribution as Chairman of Manchester City to the development of the club performance athletically and commerciall

The Egyptian star Mohamed Salah was awarded the Outstanding Arab Athlete Award in recognition of his football creativity after his exceptional season with Liverpool F.C. where he scored 44 goals in all competitions. He also won the title of Premier League top scorer and best player. Mohamed Salah deserved to be among the top three players in the world and Europe in 2018. Moreover, he succeeded in leading Egypt to qualify for the World Cup in Russia. He won the title of African Player of the Year and being considered the best Arab professional in Europe.

The winners were named during a press conference held at Palace Downtown Hotel on Monday. Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees and the vice chairman of Dubai Sports Council, Mustafa Larfaoui, member of the Award's Board of Trustees, and cChairman of the Arbitration Committee, and Moaza AlMarri, secretary general of the Award delivered a speech, in the presence of Nasser Al Rahma, director of the Award and assistant secretary general of Dubai Sports Council, and representatives of sports and media institutions in UAE.

Al Tayer said, "At the beginning, MBR Creative Sports Award's Board of Trustees is honored to congratulate the wise leadership on the occasion of the 47th National Day of UAE's Union.

“Under the banner of our wise leadership, we are pursuing more achievements and prosperity. In the midst of the Year of Zayed and National Day celebrations, we are pleased to extend our thanks and gratitude to Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai, chairman of Dubai Sports Council, patron of the Award, and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the UAE National Olympic Committee and president of the Award on the unlimited sponsorship and support for the sports sector in general and the Award in particular."

"We appreciate the efforts of the Arbitrators who participated in evaluating the files impartially and transparently through the Smart Remote Arbitration mechanism, which was accomplished by the Award national talent work teams,” Al Tayer said.

"We are pleased with the growth achieved in the number of candidates locally, at Arab level and internationally, as well as the keenness of sports institutions and federation to participate through its initiatives and programs dedicated for youth. We are also pleased with the success of Smart Remote Arbitration system adopted by the Arbitration Committee. This system was designed specifically for the Award by its staff,” Larfaoui said.

Al Tayer announced the names of the Local and Arab Sports Personalities as well the Outstanding Arab Athlete, in the 10th Edition. Al Marri, announced the names of all winners in the other categories