The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi held its 2006-2007 year-end ceremony in May in Abu Dhabi. The ceremony was attended by HE Majid Al Mansouri, EA Secretary General, HE Mohamed Salem Al Dhaheri, Director of Abu Dhabi Education Zone, Mr. Nejib Zaafrani, Shell Abu Dhabi Managing Director as well as other officials and educational and environmental stakeholders.

During the ceremony, Shell Abu Dhabi was honoured for its efforts to help protect the environment. Over two-hundred participants were also honoured for their involvement in the different environmental awareness programmes organised by the Environment Agency during the academic year. Such programmes included desert and marine trips, environmental awareness lectures, field trips, exhibitions and cleaning campaigns.

In cooperation with the Education Zones of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, organised the sixth annual environment competition, sponsored by Shell, at the Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi. Fifty students were honoured at the party, which was attended by over nine hundred students from 132 public and private schools. Mr. Nejib Zaafrani presented the winners with their awards and gifts.

In cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Shell in the UAE held the awarding ceremony of the Shell Better Environment Award (BEA) 2007, the UAE’s foremost initiative aimed at addressing and raising awareness of environmental issues. The event - held at the presence of official authorities representatives - culminates a yearlong search for the most innovative and effective environmental projects conceptualized by students of different schools in the UAE.

For this year, the Better Environment Award has expanded its categories to three, which now include Road Safety and Health in addition to Environment. The introduction of the changes has been credited as one of the reasons the event has generated an overwhelming response this year.

Three schools won "Pedestrian Safety" category: Al Khamael Namousajieh School, Al Ain Al Khaleej private school and Al Al Alfieh School. In the “Vehicles safety” category; Falaj Al Moualla School, Pakistani Academic School, Fatima Bin Asad School and Al Arqam private school won the first three spots, with the first two schools sharing the first prize. Three schools won "Off shore Environment" category: Dubai National School, Al Mahlab School and Al Ghazali Namouzajiah School. In the “Toxic waste” category; the first categories went to Shamsa Bint Majed School, Mariam Bint Sultan School, Rakiah Secondary school and Dahmaa Namouzajiah School. Four schools won “Obesity” category: Al Wihda School, Indian high school, Zoubaida Bint Jaafar School and Hamham School.

In the "Smoking" category; the first three prizes went to Hamzah Bin Abdallah School, Emarat Private School and Abu Jandal School.

"We are very proud to hold this event. It is a very heartwarming feeling to be a part of an initiative that contributes to the welfare of the environment. I hope these kids will feel the same way and continue to be role models as they move on with their lives after this very enriching experience," said Omar Al Qurashi, Communications Manager, Shell.