Former IAA President receives UAE memorial award

The award is a memorial to Samir Fares, a former UAE resident of Lebanese origin who began the IAA-UAE chapter in 1979, the third in the region. Fares, who established his own advertising agency in Dubai in the late 1970s, was elected IAA World President elect at the Sydney World Congress in 1988, but died before his term in office began in 1990.

At the award ceremony last night, Tanvir Kanji, head of the IAA-UAE chapter, said:

"Presenting the Samir Fares Award is indeed a great moment during the IAA World Congress. To honor his memory, the chapters of Lebanon and the UAE created an IAA Award to reward an individual who has demonstrated achievement on behalf of the IAA throughout his or her career and has given outstanding service in furthering the objectives of our Association."

The awardee, he added, is designated by both the Lebanon and UAE Chapters and ratified by the Board of Directors of the IAA.

Michael Lee, whose term as IAA Chairman and World President ended this week with the handover to Dubai-based Joseph Ghossoub, said he was deeply honored to receive the award, and dedicated his victory to the IAA volunteers who further all that is good in the industry.

Earlier in the evening, IAA Chairman and World President Ghossoub presented the IAA Chapter Excellence Award - the Golden Tulip - to the Jordan chapter for the best overall contribution to the aims of the IAA in the last two years.

Platinum sponsors of the 40th IAA World Congress and Exhibition include Gulf News, CNN, Dubai Television and Motivate Publishing, while Gold Sponsors are Dentsu and EMAAR. Silver sponsors include the Chouieri Group, MBC, BBC World and Al Ittihad, while Khaleej Times, Dubai Duty Free, AME Info, FedEx and Arab Media Group (AMG) and Al Wataniya have Bronze sponsorship status. The 40th IAA World Congress is held in association with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry and Dubai Media City.

While the Congress and Exhibition are taking place, the IAA will play host to an exhibition of public service advertising (PSA) campaigns from around the world under the banner of 'Great Ads for a Better Future.' The exhibition, which includes posters, print advertisements, TV spots and reports from companies, NGOs and international organizations, will be on display in the main concourse of the Dubai International Convention Centre and is open to the general public, free of charge.

The 40th IAA World Congress and Exhibition continues until Thursday, March 23, 2006.