Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa has won the award for Best Arab Political Figure in Social Media.

He received the award from UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum during the Arab Social Media Influencers Summit, which opened yesterday in Dubai, said a report in the Gulf Daily News (GDN), our sister publication.

More than 1,500 prominent figures and experts in social media are taking part in the two-day summit, which will discuss key issues and mechanisms to improve means of communication to better serve Arab societies.

Shaikh Khalid thanked Shaikh Mohammed, who initiated the "Arab Pioneers of Social Networking Award" that highlights distinctive Arab initiatives in the social networking field and honours creative figures in various sectors and across various social networking channels.

The minister expressed appreciation on receiving the unique award, which reflects the spirit of the times and keeps abreast of stunning new developments in the field of information and communication.

He commended progress made by the UAE, particularly in the technical domain.

Shaikh Khalid said that this unique award reflects a conscious reading of the circumstances and challenges facing the Arab world, as it embodies great care to create a new tributary of Arab unity and harmony among communities across social networking sites that have acquired a prominent and growing role in various fields of life.

"This award emphasises an important message that social networking sites, which have become an important feature of an era in which borders have faded and restrictions removed, must play a stronger role in the overall development process and largely contribute to the Arab people's rapprochement," he said. - TradeArabia News Service