The 2020 Rawabi Holding Awards ceremony was held during the Society’s Annual Dinner at the Institute of Directors in London on 27 February. The Society was honoured to welcome its President to the event, the Saudi Ambassador to the United Kingdom, HRH Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud.
The evening began with a drinks reception and, after presentations by the two winners, there followed a buffet supper, providing an opportunity for members and guests to mingle and socialise.
The two worthy winners of the 2020 Rawabi awards, each of whom has demonstrated leadership and creativity, serving to deepen friendship and understanding between the peoples of our two Kingdoms, are:
Lulwah Al Homoud, a Saudi artist, freelance Curator and Visual Communication Expert, born in Riyadh now based in Dubai and London. She studied Sociology at King Saud University and was the first Saudi to gain an MA from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London. Her work, combining geometric abstraction with influences from traditional Islamic art, has been acquired by museums and institutions around the world and has sold at auction in Sotheby’s, Christies and Bonham’s.
She has dedicated many years to introducing Saudi art and culture to the UK having collaborated with The British Museum to introduce Arabic/Islamic art and design to British GCSE students.
Lulwah is the Founder and General Manager of LAH Art Foundation supporting local artists in the UK and Saudi Arabia and bridging the cultural gap between the two Kingdoms. She has made a positive impact on how Saudi Arabia is perceived here in the UK and more widely in the West.
As part of the awards, Lulwah gave a fascinating presentation on her life and work. Read it here.
David Lloyd OBE is a British national, who studied Modern and Classical Arabic at the University of Cambridge. David was a British Diplomat – the majority of his career being centred on the Middle East region – until his retirement in 2000. Having served in the British Trade Office in Al Khobar for over 5 years, David developed a life-long relationship with Saudi Arabia. He has spent over 20 years helping to promote trade and better relations between the UK and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
As Senior Consultant for the Middle East Association (MEA), David organised regular trade missions to the Kingdom and, through Opportunity Arabia, now in its 15th year, he has helped many British businesses make profitable and long-lasting connections to Saudi business.
In addition to his trade promotion efforts he has been a Trustee of the Saudi British Society for over a decade. This award recognises a lifetime’s work to promote UK-Saudi ties.
To read David Lloyd’s presentation, click here