HE the Adviser at the Emiri Diwan and Qatar’s candidate to the post of the director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari was named ‘Man of the Arab Heritage’ for 2016, during a ceremony held in Dubai on Tuesday evening.
The ‘Man of the Arab Heritage’ is the most important award presented by the Arab Centre for Tourism Media (ACTM), aiming at promoting Arab tourism and preserving the Arab heritage.
President of the Arab Parliament Dr Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Jarwan handed over the award to al-Kuwari in the presence of  several ministers of culture and tourism and a number of senior officials of the United Arab Emirates.
In a speech during the ceremony, al-Kuwari underlined that the award is in recognition of the efforts that have  been made by the State of Qatar to preserve and protect heritage, which occupies a prominent position in the country’s development plan as directed by the HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.  
He said that this honour carries great responsibility that requires continuing to work regionally and internationally in order to safeguard human heritage, noting that this responsibility falls within the noble goals of his candidacy to the post of Unesco Director-General.
Al-Kuwari pointed out that the award comes at a difficult time as the Arab and Islamic heritage is witnessing demolitions and looting by the advocates of closed ideology who do not recognise the value of heritage and do not represent the tolerance of Islam and the Arab civilisation.