UAE Philanthropic Ear Surgeon Wins OFID Award for Development

DUBAI, UAE, April 7, 2011 - The Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International
Development (OFID), Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish, today announced Dr. Mazen
Al-Hajri as the recipient of the 2011 OFID Award for Development. The Award
was announced on the sidelines of a series of high-level meetings conducted
between the Director-General and H.E. Obaid Humaid Al-Tayer, Minister of
State for Financial Affairs of the United Arab Emirates and other government
officials, regarding the upcoming 32nd Annual Session of the Ministerial
Council of OFID which will be held in Vienna, Austria, on June 16, 2011 in
which Dr. Al-Hajri will be presented with the Award during a high-level
ceremony.

Dr. Al-Hajri, a UAE national, is a pioneer in the field of
ear, nose and throat medicine. He is particularly well known for his
charitable work, and has performed countless cochlear implant operations on
Palestinian children, who have suffered hearing damage. Dr. Al-Hajri is
renowned in the Middle-East healthcare arena and is widely recognized amongst
his peers for his dedication in operating on children and training surgeons
in Gaza.

Mr. Al-Herbish said the award was in recognition of Dr.
Al-Hajri's tireless efforts in promoting and enhancing the health conditions
of deaf children in Gaza. The Director-General added that such efforts were
in accord with OFID's mission in scores of developing countries around the
world and that "Dr. Al-Hajri's aim to lift people's condition through the
provision of healthcare is at the core of OFID's mandate."

In his statement when the Award was announced, Dr. Al-Hajri
thanked OFID for the recognition and said that the money would be used to
further assist various programs that renew hope for deaf children. He stated
that working with medical communities in Palestine strove to provide
Palestinian children with a better life and greater prospects for a
sustainable future.

The OFID Annual Award for Development was instituted in 2006.
It carries a prize of US$100,000. Dr. Al-Hajri stated that this amount will
be donated to conducting surgeries on deaf children in Gaza.

Over the last 35 years, OFID has provided more than US$126
million in assistance for 404 operations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. All
operations have been implemented through partnerships with international and
regional development organizations and over 77 Palestinian NGOs in the West
Bank and 119 NGOs operating in the Gaza Strip.

Contact: Ms. Reem Aljarbou, Information Officer;
email: r.aljarbou@ofid.org, or Phone: +431-515-64-291

Ms. Reem Aljarbou, Information Officer; email: r.aljarbou at ofid.org, or Phone: +431-515-64-291