Damas crafts world's largest coin-like medallion for premier institution of UAE

On every two years an Award Presentation Ceremony is held in Dubai and in this term of 2007-2008 awards was held on Monday 15th December 2008, 7pm onwards at Rashid Hall Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

At the end of the ceremony a coin-like medallion was presented as a memento of the event to the patron of the award His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Minister of Finance and Deputy Ruler of Dubai.

Crafted from fine silver and gold plated with 22 carat gold the remarkable piece measures 1m (39.37 in) in diameter and is of 2.3 cm (0.9 in) thickness. It weighs an astonishing 185.88 kgs (409.8 lb) and has an estimated value of Dhs1m ($272,257). The piece of art has the face of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum engraved on one side and the logo on the other and was created by the Damas Factory DMCC under the guidance of Damas Corporate Sales Division. It set a new Guinness World Record and was recognized by the famous world body for its efforts with a certificate.

Mr. Tawhid Abdullah, Managing Director, Damas Jewellery, said:

"Damas is proud to have been appointed by an institution of the caliber of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences to create the world's biggest coin-like medallion. As one of the region's oldest design houses it is a great honour to have been so closely associated with the memorable event and we consider it a true milestone in our growth and progress. The Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences has contributed tremendously towards medical research in the region, in turn aiding ongoing efforts to place UAE as the new health destination."

The Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences was instituted over a decade ago to honour individuals, universities, establishments and research centres all over the world for their outstanding achievements in the field of medicine and to those who have alleviated suffering by providing medical care to the people of UAE. The Award aims to encourage development of institutions dedicated to research and scientific method in the Arab world. It actively works towards enhancing the relationship between doctors in the UAE and international medical centres in order to benefit from their expertise. The award also supports distinctive medical research to encourage their publication in the JMS - Journal of Medical Sciences (official publication of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences).