Sheikh Saeed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum presented awards to eight winners of the Emirates Business Women Award (EBWA) 2008 in 'Business and Professional' categories at a gala dinner ceremony held in Grand Hyatt Dubai last night.

Paris Gallery was appreciated for their support as a Gift Sponsor of the Award.

Sheikh Saeed also gave a special recognition to Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai; for her selfless dedication and contribution to the development of women.

Raja Al Gurg accepted the trophy on behalf of Princess Haya. Maryam Sharaf, the Overall EBWA Professional category winner, garnered the top EBWA 2008 award at the ceremony.

Mary Jane Alvero – Al Mahdi, runner-up in the professional category; Criterion winner Sheikha Azza bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi (Leadership); Criterion Winner Dr. Nawal Al Hosany (Business, Professional & Career Achievement; Criterion winner Maryam Al Jallaf (Business, Professional & Career Achievement); Criterion winner Haleh Janani (Future Goals & Financial Performance); Criterion Winner Monira Safar (Community Contributions and Participation); and Criterion Winner Mona Al Kandi (Innovation) were also honoured.

Organisers DQG and Shell, also gave certificates of appreciation to the sponsors, supporters, assessors and jury members of Ebwa 2008.

'Dubai Quality Group is pleased to witness the culmination of yet another successful cycle of the Emirates Business Women Award,' said Marwan Al Sawaleh, chairman, DQG.

'It has been our firm belief that this initiative has the power to influence women to be more involved in the economic affairs of the country; and this has been proven by the growing number of successful women in the fields of business and professional expertise, many of them products of this groundbreaking initiative,' he added.

Omar Al Qurashi, communications manager, Shell commented: 'The EBWA program has been an excellent avenue in the last five years, we are looking for more commitments with the UAE community in our social responsibilities program.”-TradeArabia News Service