Category: RECORDS IN ME & AFRICA*

Rower Mohamed Sbihi to Become First Muslim to Carry British Flag at Olympics Opening Ceremony : July 2021

Mohamed Sbihi (aka) Mohamed Karim Sbihi (aka) Moe Sbihi. Rower. Dual Olympian. Twice Olympic Medal Winner.

British rower and gold medalist Mohamed Sbihi will on Friday make history when he becomes the first Muslim to carry the British flag at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, a role he will share with another gold medalist, sailor Hannah Mills.

Sbihi, 33, won a gold medal in the coxless four at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and claimed a bronze as part of the British crew in the men’s eight at London 2012.

Sbihi, who received an MBE in the British Queen’s 2017 New Year’s Honors list, and Mills, a campaigner for clean oceans.

Sbihi, who was born in Kingston upon Thames to a Moroccan father and British mother, gave notice of his talent as a rower at the age of 15 when he finished first in the junior men J15 category at the 2003 Great Britain Indoor Rowing Championships.

source/content: arabnews.com

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pix: www.britishrowing.org

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BRITISH / MOROCCAN

French-Algerian Filmmaker Farida Khelfa Releases Documentary on Arab Women : July 2021

Algerian-French former model and documentary filmmaker Farida Khelfa is set to release a new film that aims to dismantle misconceptions and stereotypes that often surround Arab women.

Titled “From The Other Side of the Veil,” the new film, which is debuting on Khelfa’s YouTube channel July 2, is also a celebration of Middle Eastern women.

source/content: arabnews.com

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Khelfa is one of the first women of Arab descent to have a successful modeling career. Instagram

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FRENCH / ALGERIAN

Egypt’s Al Ahly Win Record-Extending 10th CAF Champions League Title : July 2021

Egyptian club Al Ahly seals a record-extending 10th African Champions League title by beating Kaiser Chiefs of South Africa in the final.

Al Ahly extended their record as the club with most CAF Champions League titles to a total of 10 and they are five titles ahead of Zamalek and TP Mazembe.  

Al Ahly, who entered the game as the reigning champions, achieved back-to-back titles for the third time in the club’s history after 2005/2006 and 2012/2013.  

Al Ahly’s captain Mohamed El Shenawy had a special night as he became the first captain in the club’s history to lift the trophy for two straight seasons. 

source/content: egypttoday.com

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Mohamed Sherif celebrates his goal, courtesy of Al Ahly website / pix: egypttoday.com

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EGYPT

Team Abu Dhabi Crowned World Endurance Champions again – 2nd Time : Augustow, Poland: July 2021

All-Emirati crews secure another double triumph as Cappellini’s two-boat strategy works to perfection.

Team Abu Dhabi secured their first major powerboat racing crown of the season on Sunday as Rashed Al Qemzi, Thani Al Qemzi and Mansoor Al Mansoori combined to win the UIM World Endurance Championships in Augustów, Poland.

This triumph means that Cappellini has now delivered 12 world championship titles to Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club since taking charge in February 2015.

This was also the first time in the championships that Team Abu Dhabi had been represented by a full Emirati driver line-up.

source/content: khaleejtimes.com

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Team Abu Dhabi had entered the championship with an all-Emirati two-boat line-up for the first time. — Supplied photo / khaleejtimes.com

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Almoez Ali Makes History- First to Score at 3 Football Tournaments – Asian Cup, Gold Cup, Copa America

Almoez Ali creates footballing history as the first ever player to score in three of the biggest football tournaments. 

Qatar’s number one striker scored nine goals at the Asian Cup 2019 and a goal each at Copa America in 2019 against Paraguay as well as this year’s 2021 Gold Cup against Panama

source/content: dohanews.co

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pix; QFA / dohanews.co

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QATAR / SUDAN

World’s Largest Hampton by Hilton, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE : July 2021

Ras Al Khaimah’s Al Ali Construction & Development (AACD)has marked the handing over of the $81.6m (AED300m), 39,625m2 Hampton by Hilton Hotel at the Al Marjan Island.

With the handover milestone, the project has become the largest Hampton by Hilton in the world to date.

The 515-keys beach hotel has been engineered by JT+Partners, with International Engineering Center as the supervision consultant, and developed by Mohamed Ruqait Properties (MR Properties). 

The tower level comprises 515 rooms and suites, while the wide rooftop consists three chiller zones and two fire exits. The hotel will also feature 450m of a private white sand beach, a 1,000m2 pool, other recreational facilities and an observation deck. 

source/content : constructionweekonline.com

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AACD marks handover of world’s largest Hampton by Hilton / pix: constructionweekonline.com

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RAS AL KHAIMAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E)

Winners of 5th Critics Awards for Arab Films at Cannes Film Festival : 2021

Held within the events of the 74th Cannes Film Festival, Arab Cinema Center announced the winners of the 5th Critics Awards for Arab Films. 

Here’s the winners’ list: 

Best Documentary

Lift Like A Girl | Directed by Mayye Zayed | Egypt

Best Actress

Hiam Abbas | Gaza Mon Amour | Palestine

Best Actor:

Ali Suliman | 200 Meters | Palestine 

Best Screenplay:

Kaouther ben Hania | The Man Who Sold His Skin | Tunisia

Best Director:

Ameen Nayfeh | 200 METERS | Palestine 

Best Feature Film

Gaza Mon Amour| Directed by Arab Nasser – Tarzan Nasser | Palestine

The first edition of the Critics Awards for Arab Films was held on the margins of the 70th Cannes Film Festival. The awards are given to the best Arab film productions every year in the following categories: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary Film, Best Director, Best Writer, Best Actress and Best Actor. For the first time in the history of Arab cinema, the jury committee brings together 160 of the most prominent Arab and international film critics from 63 countries from all over the world this year.

Arab Cinema Center (ACC) is a nonprofit organization registered in Amsterdam.

source/content: egypttoday.com

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200 Metres’ by May Odeh, twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser and Rani Massalha pose with their accolades at the Arab Critics Awards. Arab Cinema Centre / pix: thenationalnews.ae

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ARAB WORLD / PALESTINE/ EGYPT / TUNISIA

Al Hamra Business Tower wins ‘Audience Award’ for 10 year Category : Kuwait : June 2021

The most influential tower built in Kuwait in the last decade, Al Hamra Business Tower was the proud winner of the ‘Audience Award’ for the 10 year category of 2011 projects completion by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), Al Hamra Business Tower stands at 413 meters high across 80 levels, integrated with intelligent design, functionality a striking mix of iconic sculptural form and breathtaking office views overlooking the Gulf.

 Mr. Ali Khajah, Chief Operating Officer of Al Hamra Real Estate Development said: “This is truly an honor and an enriching experience as Al Hamra Business Tower receives a new category award resulting from the global respect and appreciation for our brand and its progress from a vast and diverse list of industry peers.

 Previously, Al Hamra Business Tower was recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) as the tallest building in Kuwait, 2nd tallest building, and tallest office building and tallest concrete structure in the Middle East. Internationally, the Tower was acclaimed for being 2nd tallest concrete structure in the world, 5th tallest office building in the world and 12th tallest building in the world in the year 2012.

source/content : arabtimesonline.com

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The Al Hamra Business Tower stands at 413 meters high across 80 levels, integrated with intelligent design / pix: arabtimesonline.com

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KUWAIT

Saudi Arabia Wins Presidency of Arab League’s – ALECSO’s Executive Council & Hani Al-Muqbel Elected as its President : July 2021

Saudi Arabia has won the presidency of the executive council of the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO).

Saudi representative and member of ALECSO’s executive council Hani Al-Muqbel on Thursday was elected president of the council from 2021 through 2023, winning a majority of the vote and the participation of 21 Arab countries.

Al-Muqbel has over 18 years of work experience. He graduated from Harvard Business School after completing several executive training programs, including the executive program in developing leaderships, and other programs specialized in the strategic leadership, negotiation, board of directors’ governance, building strategic partnerships, design thinking and business growth from Harvard Business School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and business schools in Stanford, Columbia, INSEAD, and the International Institute for Management Development (IMD)

source/content: www.arabnews.com

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Saudi representative and member of ALECSO’s executive council Hani Al-Muqbel. (Supplied) / pix: arabnews.com

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SAUDI ARABIA

Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan named ‘Man of Humanity’ by Vatican’s Foundation Gravissimum Educationis : July 06th, 2021

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, was named as the “Man of Humanity” by the Vatican’s Foundation Gravissimum Educationis .

Mohamed bin Zayed’s naming as ‘Man of Humanity’ underscores international community’s recognition of his humanitarian role: UAE Fatwa Council.

An outcome of his leading efforts to promote the values of compassion, giving and peace globally.

The UAE Fatwa Council pointed out that His Highness Sheikh Mohamed’s achievements in supporting needy people and rescuing those affected by crises and disasters without discrimination around the world highlights his belief in the tolerant spirit of Islam, which calls for tolerance and noble values, reflecting the Prophet Muhammad’s saying, “There is a reward for everyone with a moist liver.”

To date, the UAE has provided aid to medical staff and front line workers in more than 135 countries to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In March, Sheikh Mohamed was awarded ‘The 2021 DIHAD International Personality Award for Humanitarian Relief ‘ as a gesture of international gratitude for His Highness’s continuous support and dedicated efforts in reinforcing humanitarian work.

source: wam.ae

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The Award was received by Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of State, on behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, from Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi, prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, President of Pontifical Foundation Gravissimum Educationis and Ministry of Education Vatican, during a ceremony held on July 06th, 2021 at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of the ambassadors accredited to the UAE. /pix: wam.ae

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (U.A.E.)