Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation announces two winners of Sawaed Programme for 2009

Notes and media contacts

About Sawaed
The purpose of the challenge fund launched in June 2008 is to stimulate private enterprises in the creation of innovative, commercially replicable forms of information and knowledge sharing, for application in the Arab World, using ICT as a platform.

This Challenge Fund - through the successful implementation of projects - will contribute to well educated and informed people throughout the Arab World, to knowledge creation, employment and the promotion and preservation of Arabic culture and heritage. Specifically the fund aims to:Increase high quality Arabic online content, Improve access to knowledge and information on ICT platforms, Develop ICT-based resources that support education and learning (particularly in leadership and development), Promote Arab culture through the use of ICT, and Create commercially viable, innovative and potentially replicable ICT-based products and services

The Sawaed Programme is open to organisations registered in any one of the 22 Arab League countries: KSA, Egypt, UAE, Algeria, Kuwait, Morocco, Libya, Qatar, Oman, Tunisia, Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, Mauritania, Comoros Islands, Iraq, Somalia, Palestine and Djibouti. At this stage, other countries are not part of the Sawaed Programme. At this stage, other countries are not part of the Sawaed Programme.

About Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation:
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation was founded on the personal initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, with an endowment worth $10bn.

The Foundation was announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed at the World Economic Forum on the Middle East held at the Dead Sea, Jordan, in May 2007. Through three strategic sectors of Culture, Knowledge and Education, as well as Entrepreneurship and Employment, the Foundation seeks to develop knowledge and human capabilities in the Arab world. The Foundation's three underlying principles are; Building the region's human capital with a pool of knowledgeable and talented individuals; Offering better opportunities for the region's younger generation to acquire knowledge and secure a better future; and Promoting leadership qualities among the younger generation to enhance their living standards.

For further information please contact:

Sultan Al Jesmi
Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation
Tel: +971 4 4233 472