DUBAI // A Jordanian scientist who has devoted his life to preserving the ancient city of Petra yesterday became the first Arab to receive a prestigious award given for work that benefits the world.
Talal Akasheh, a professor of chemistry at the Hashemite University in Zarqa, Jordan, was named a laureate in the Rolex Awards for Enterprise.
The 32-year-old prize honouring achievement in science, technology, exploration, cultural heritage and the environment was awarded in Dubai. It was the first time the awards have been held in the Middle East.
Dr Akasheh has spent decades developing a detailed computer map of Petra to help conserve the 2,500-year-old city carved from rock.
The city is being eroded by the weather and the thousands of tourists who visit it every year.
Dr Akasheh will receive US$100,000 (Dh367,000) to help him complete the project, which he estimates will take another two years.
"It is the starting process, like a diagnostic exercise to show what is happening so we can better understand it and better protect it," he said.
"Nature is a very strong force and you cannot stop natural weathering completely.
"The idea is to try and reduce its effects and slow it down, but we do not advocate closing the sites to people."
Dr Akasheh first saw Petra in the early 1980s, but said part of the reason he was drawn to work on it was that his ancestors had lived in a small village just a few kilometres from the site around 200 years ago.
"There is a sense of nostalgia and going back to my roots that I thought was interesting to work with."
A total of five people are given the Rolex Awards every two years. This year's other laureates were from all over the world and have worked on projects in many different fields.
Tim Bauer, an engineer from the US, was commended for his work in making rickshaws in the Philippines more efficient and less polluting.
Andrew McGonigle, from Scotland, won for trying to find new ways to predict volcanic eruptions using remote-control helicopters.
Andrew Muir, from South Africa, developed a pioneering programme that gives training and opportunities to young people orphaned by Aids.
And Elsa Zaldivar, from Paraguay, developed low-cost building materials out of recycled plastic and loofah.
Five associate laureates were given $50,000 each. All of the money is to be spent on their projects, although winners also receive inscribed Rolex gold watches.
gmccleneghan@thenational.ae
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Profile
Name: Carzaty
Founders: Marwan Chaar and Hassan Jaffar
Launched: 2017
Employees: 22
Based: Dubai and Muscat
Sector: Automobile retail
Funding to date: $5.5 million
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
Result
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Brraq, Ryan Curatolo (jockey), Jean-Claude Pecout (trainer)
7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m; Winner: Bright Melody, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby
7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Naval Crown, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby
8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m; Winner: Volcanic Sky, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Star Safari, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Zainhom, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi
