Development, in its comprehensive sense and various economic, social and human dimensions, remains to be the lifeline to end the crisis besetting some countries in the Arab region, so as engaging in comprehensive human-centred, development process that begin and ends with human and takes into account the principle of sustainability that protects societies from the scourges of extremism and terrorism, and strengthens their immunization against social tensions and violence..
It is no secret that the Arab world is undergoing a sustained development movement led by pioneers having an unconventional vision to transfer societies to a better situation, and a sincere determination to move towards the process of reform and change to the furthest extent..
It remains necessary and imperative that the League of Arab States, being the most important and the biggest (Home of the Arabs), must highlight the successful and inspirational development practices in the Arab region, so that those interested and acting in development areas can benefit from and inspire these practices. Therefore, the Arab League Secretary-General has decided to grant an annual symbolic award entitled " Arab Development Action Shield" to Leading Arab figures having prominent, tangible and influential contributions in the area of development in its comprehensive sense, with a view to mainstream and benefit from experiences as widely as possible..
The winner of the " Arab Development Action Shield" award will be declared in April of each year, and the Arab League Secretary-General will deliver the award at the Secretariat General headquarters.
It should be noted that the winner of the 2016 award was H.R.H Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain since its independence, being an eminent person in the area of development in the Arab region, as he has evolved in the modernization battle since the 1970s, and his achievements in Bahrain attests his distinctive reform vision and brave development thinking.
