Khalifa, 2005 Political Personality: Poll

A local opinion poll has proclaimed President H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as UAE's political personality of the year 2005, and General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and UAE Defence Minister, as the economic personality on the UAE, GCC and Arab levels. The poll, carried by the Dubai-based Arabic Daily, Al Bayan, also named the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, and the late Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Al Hariri as the political personalities on the GCC and Arab levels, respectively.

The poll, which interviewed 1,388 persons, also selected H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah as the cultural personality on the UAE, GCC and Arab levels; UAE Minister of Culture and Information Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ranked second, followed in the third place by Mohammed Al Mur, President of Dubai Cultural Council. The second place for the cultural personality went to Saudi poet and diplomat Ghazi Al Gosaibi on the GCC level, while on the Arab level it was shared by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and the Syrian poet Adonis.

In economics, the second place on the GCC and Arab levels went to Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal bin Abdul Aziz. In sports, General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum seized the top rank on the UAE, GCC and Arab levels. The second place went to Saudi soccer player Sami Al Jaber, and Moroccan athlete Hisham Al Karouj, on the GCC and Arab levels, respectively. The poll named Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak as the female personality on the UAE, GCC and Arab levels, the second place went to Sheikha Moza Al Mosnid, wife of the Emir of Qatar, and to Queen Rania Al Abdullah, wife of the Jordanian Monarch, on the GCC and Arab levels, respectively. The art personality title went to UAE actor Jabir Naghmoush, on the UAE level, and to Saudi singer Mohammed Abdo on the GCC and Arab levels. (The Emirates News Agency, WAM)