The Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Medical Sciences has embarked upon a new phase with the establishment of multiple awards and the initiation of several programmes in the various branches of medical sciences that allows scientists and scientific institutions alike to compete with each other and offers them the opportunity to report on the most recent advances in their fields of interest.

This prestigious Award would not have attained this stature without the generous support of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance and Industry, Patron of the Award. His Highness' generosity is consistent with the philosophy of our enlightened leadership and their wise policy that is based on the importance given to the development of the abilities and resources of UAE citizens and their encouragement to strive to excel in the service of their society.

The first, second and Third rounds of awards proved to be widely successful, as recognized by international observers and testified to by leading researchers vying for the award. This success reflects on the Award's international reputation and its high scientific credibility and level of performance.

The Award is considered today to represent a sizable scientific treasure due to the large body of scientific research that was conducted under its auspices. It offers UAE nationals and residents the opportunity to benefit from this research as a valuable reference and to contribute to further developing its achievements.

The Award has sought to lay the foundations for research activities in the field of medical science in the United Arab Emirates. This scope of research is comprehensive and covers all branches of medical sciences, which are taken up in each successive round of awards and the results presented at the scientific conferences that it sponsors.

The Award encourages excellence in performance by UAE and Arab national researchers, inventors and other contributors to the development of the medical sector, by affording them the necessary resources and providing them with the required material and moral support as well as a comfortable environment to work in.

I take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan for his noble generosity and thank him for his continuous support. I also take this opportunity to recognize the contribution made by those who worked to promote and raise the profile of the UAE and assure them that we stand ready to continue to provide them with all the facilities they need in their pursuit of excellence and advancement.

May God bless you.

Hamad A Al Midfaa
Minister of Health, United Arab Emirates
Chairman, Board of Trustees