Sixth Arab Chemistry Olympiad starts off in RAK

Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Finance Department and Head of the Board of Trustees of RAK Award for Creativity and Excellence, inaugurated the Sixth Arab Chemistry Olympiad which started off at the RAK Medical and Health Sciences University (RAK MHSU) here today.
As many as 47 secondary students, representing 12 countries, are participating in the Arab Chemistry Olympiad which is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. The event is being held under the aegis of Union of Arab Chemists and UAE Chemical Society in association with the UAE Ministry of Education and the RAK Award for Creativity and Excellence.
The Arab Chemistry Olympiad tests the knowledge and practical skills of secondary school students in chemistry by combining theoretical and practical testing. The competition involves two theoretical examinations and three practical experiments to be held over the three- day long competition.
Inaugurating the event, Sheikh Faisal said that the RAK Award for Creativity and Excellence considered it a great honor to host the Sixth Arab Chemistry Olympiad in Ras Al Khaimah.
"The Arab world was home to one of the world's most impressive scientific traditions, exemplified by the works of scientists like Jabir ibn Hayyan, Al Nafis, Al Razi and many others. Our students should be able to draw inspiration from their stellar achievements. Events like the Arab Chemistry Olympiad would provide an opportunity to recognize and nurture outstanding scientific talent from the region and also to foster academic cooperation and scientific engagement among various Arab countries," Sheikh Faisal said.   
Mouza Saif Al Mattar, President of the UAE Chemical Society, said that the Olympiad would award four gold medals and ten silver and bronze medals. The gold medal winners would get prize money of USD 1000 and a laptop computer. She added that the team from UAE had won the second place in last year’s Arab Chemistry Olympiad held in Saudi Arabia.
The theoretical tests at the Chemistry Olympiad covers areas like organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry and physical chemistry and the practical tests include experiments like preparing acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) in the laboratory. It is the first time that UAE is hosting the Arab Chemistry Olympiad, the previous editions of which were held in Egypt, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
Dr. Ali Abdulkhaliq Al Qarni, Director of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, Shaikha Al Shamsi, Chief Executive for Educational Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Education, Dr. Salah Yousef Al Fahili, Chairman of the Union of Arab Chemists and Dr Ahmad Alghamdi, General Secretary of the Union of Arab Chemists, were present at the inaugural session.
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H.E. Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Chairman of RAK Finance Department and Head of the Board of Trustees of RAK Award for Creativity and Excellence, inaugurating the Sixth Arab Chemistry Olympiad at the RAK Medical and Health Sciences University on Sunday.