The Prince of Wales has presented Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel with an Honorary Knighthood in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The investiture ceremony took place at the British Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Jameel is the president of the Abdul Latif Jameel Group, a holding company that operates in several sectors, including land and real estate, energy, and advertising. He is also chairman of the philanthropic organization, Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives (ALJCI), focused on health and social welfare, arts, and culture.
“It is a great honour to have received this award from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales,” said Jameel in a statement. “I would like to thank my family, my colleagues at Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives and our partners across the globe for their hard work and support in running the numerous programmes that help make such a difference to the lives of so many.”
Last October, the Queen announced that Jameel would receive the award in recognition of his activities, supporting the arts in the UK (see Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel Awarded Honorary Knighthood).
Jameel was involved in the development of the Islamic Gallery housed in the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. The gallery opened in July 2006 after a thorough redesign. The display examines how Islamic art developed, from the Islamic caliphate period in the eighth and ninth centuries, to oil paintings from 19th-century Iran.
ALJCI also founded the Jameel Prize in partnership with the Victoria & Albert Museum. The £25,000 cash prize is awarded every two years to an emerging artist or designer inspired by Islamic traditions.