August 18th, 2008
10:25 am
The Pan Arab Web Awards Academy, together with the UAE Web Awards Committee, have recently announced the launch of the fourth edition of the annual UAE Web Awards.
With hundreds of websites expected to vie for top honours, organisers aim to surpass the success achieved by the competition during its 2007 run.
The unique contest honours the creative talents behind the development and design of UAE websites while promoting the protection of their intellectual property rights.
The competition is open to all UAE-based organizations and independent website designers and developers.
The best website will receive the Diamond Award, the highest honorary award in the competition. Each contest category will include three winners, with the champion receiving a golden cup and the second and third placers accepting silver and bronze cups, respectively.
The 2008 Web Awards will consist of more than 30 categories; winners in each category will be chosen by a prestigious panel of web design and development experts based on special criteria and international standards. The judges will reveal their choices during an official dinner ceremony to be held on November 29, 2008 at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, UAE. The triumphant contenders will represent the UAE in the broader Pan Arab Web Awards competition, which will include regional winners from Lebanon, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, and Yemen.
‘The success of the previous editions of the UAE Awards has motivated us to expand the scope and goals of this important event. In this modern digital era where knowledge has emerged as a key agent for progress, websites have become primary sources of information and vital business tools. The distinctive and user-friendly design of websites helps project a positive corporate image. The Awards serves as a platform for participants to showcase their creativity and also allows us to promote the importance of respecting intellectual property rights,’ said Pierre Moukarzel, President and Founder, Pan Arab Web Awards Academy.
‘We aim to honour the country’s best website designers and developers through this event. We will be gathering the best and the brightest web designing companies, independent designers and website owners to recognize their creativity and commitment to the website craft. This year’s categories will include banking; financial services; e-commerce; education; fashion; private and public organizations; and hospitals, among others. We will witness the best websites in fields ranging from media and publicity; car rental; and sports, to entertainment, real estate and marine transport. The 2008 contest will definitely be another landmark event for website development in the UAE,’ concluded Moukarzel.
Tags: Pan Arab Web Awards Academy, Pierre Moukarzel, UAE Web Awards, UAE Web Awards Committee
The Pan Arab Web Awards, in association with Microsoft, MSN Mena and Business Software Alliance (BSA), the international association established by the software industry to promote a safe and legal digital world, has recently concluded its fourth edition at the Burj Al Arab Al Falak Ballroom in Dubai, honouring over 125 websites and interactive agencies from several categories.
The 4th Pan Arab Web Awards has been established as a premiere platform to recognise excellence in web design, development skills and creativity in the Pan Arab Region.
‘The fourth Pan Arab Web Awards competition was presented by the Web Awards Academy registered in January 2008. Web Awards Academy is dedicated to the creative, technical, and professional progress of the internet and interactive media,’ said Pierre Moukarzel, President of the Web Awards Program in the Arab region.
Moukarzel emphasised that it has been the Web Awards’ mission to promote excellence in web development across the Arab World. He also said that the 2008 edition has received an unprecedented number of registrants and has expanded its reach across the region. ‘We had before representatives in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Oman, UAE and Qatar. We expanded to welcome new representatives in Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen and Saudi Arabia,’ said Moukarzel.
Pooya Darugar, Head of Web Platform, Microsoft Gulf said: ‘We at Microsoft are very pleased to continue our association with the Pan Arab Web Awards. This is the fourth Pan Arab Web Awards we have participated in and we look forward to a continuing collaboration. Microsoft tools and technologies are the leader in the web development space both globally and here in the region. With the privilege of being in a leadership position on web standards and development, we feel that we should put as much effort as possible in making the web a better place’.
Darugar added: ‘We want to ensure that the local talent in this region is promoted and their work is recognised for raising the standards of websites, which is also why we participate in these awards’.
Leading this year’s honourees is dsc.etacareers.com, which received the Diamond Award, while the Web Company of the Year award went to Beirut-based Koein. Other key awards handed out were Microsoft Award for the Best Website Built on Microsoft (www.cbq.com.qa), Best Arabic Website in the Arab Region (www.as7ab.maktoob.com), Award of Honour (www.president-saleh.info), Best Web Technology Award (www.yamli.com), Best Strategic Social Network Portal (www.dipark.com), Best Strategic Oil and Gas Portal (www.enolubricants.com), Best Strategic Media and Press Portal (www.alriyadh.com), Best Strategic ICT Portal (www.nawras.om), Best Strategic Government Portal (www.cma.org.sa/cma_en/default.aspx), Best Strategic Entertainment Portal (www.pepsiseaofstars.com) and Best Strategic Education Portal (www.kaust.edu.sa).
The rest of the categories and winners included Travel and Tourism (www.utravelme.com), Transportation (www.walt.etacareers.com), Services (www.dubaiseeker.com), Real Estate (www.abdali.jo), Retails (www.turtlesoman.com), Oil and Gas (www.enjm.com), Non-governmental organisations (www.brandprotectiongroup.org), Media and Press (www.masrawy.com), Industrial (www.kit-wood.com and www.kaddb.com), International Organisation (www.ccef-liban.com), ICT (www.mobinil.com/default.aspx), Hotels (www.themonarchdubai.com), Health Safety and Environment (www.arkan.ae), Governmental Organisations (www.hadhramaut.info), Health Services (www.rakhospital.com), Food and Beverage (www.bluefig.com).
Financial Institutions and Insurance (www.argaam.com and www.algebra-capital.com), Education (www.aust.edu.lb), E-commerce (www.otlob.com), Directories and Info Services (www.expofolio.com), Corporate (www.inkript.com), Bank Corporate (www.cbq.com.qa), Automotive (www.infinitioman.com), Airlines (www.etihadairways.com), Advertising Production (www.spadescasting.com), Art & Design (www.reflections-jo.com), Culture (www.rewayty.com and cmj.cmj.jo), Entertainment (www.mazika.com/ar/default.aspx), Fashion and Art (www.josepheid.com), Forums (www.gulfinjordan.paravisionglobal.com),
Personal (www.charleschlela.com), Social Network (www.as7ab.maktoob.com), Sports (dsc.etacareer.com), and V.I.P. (www.rafikhariri.com).
‘The original team behind the Pan Arab Web Awards still guides the awards today. Each year brings new challenges and growth. The 4th Annual PAWA event gathers high quality judges, and great marketing and strategic partners like MSN Arabia, Lebanese Canadian Bank, Gowealthy and Orient Planet,’ said Moukarzel.
Tags: BSA, Business Software Alliance, Microsoft, MSN Mena, Pan Arab Web Awards, Pierre Moukarzel, Pooya Darugar
