ABU DHABI // More than 22,000 have been nominated for this year's Abu Dhabi Awards - an increase of 6,000 on last year.
By the time nominations closed on September 25, organisers had received nomination for people from 62 nations.
The awards, held every other year, recognise those who have contributed to Abu Dhabi's growth by performing good deeds towards the emirate, whether in the UAE or abroad.
Organisers are hoping this year's nominees will represent a broader geographic spread within the emirate, having made an effort to move the focus away from Abu Dhabi city - which in 2009 accounted for 88 per cent of nominations. But this year's awards had a special focus on Al Ain and Al Gharbia, with stands in malls there, as well as a nomination bus that drove to 67 locations including Al Ain, Al Ruwais, Madinat Zayed and Liwa. Nominations could also be made online.
The winners - there are expected to be between five and 15 - will be named at a ceremony at the Emirates Palace hotel in December.
"We are delighted a great number of people participated in recognising the spirit of generosity and goodness that pervades the emirate," said an organiser. "This year's significant growth in nominations will [help us] recognise some truly outstanding individuals."
Past recipients of the Abu Dhabi Awards can be viewed on www.abudhabiawards.ae.
