Middle East Energy Players Dig Deep for Charity; Thousands see crowning of the Oil Baron 2010

The wishes of a record amount of children living with different forms of cancer have been granted







due to generous donations collected at the eighth annual Oil Barons Ball in Dubai.

The event - the most anticipated highlight of the energy sector’s social calendar and the largest

outdoor gala event of its kind in the Middle East – saw the region’s energy industry come together

for a fantastic night of fun – and fundraising.

With more than 2,000 people in attendance at the Ball on Friday, November 12, at Dubai Media

City’s amphitheatre, nearly a half million dirhams was raised for Sharjah-based Friends of Cancer

Patients (FOCP) from cash donations and a silent auction held at the event.

Generous bids were received on all the auctioned items on offer, with a pair of business class

flights to Paris courtesy of Emirates Airline receiving the highest bid of the night. One charitable

attendee pledged more than AED 80,000 within minutes of the start of the event.

Al Tayer Motors generously donated one year’s car lease; while another individual pledged AED

40,000 which will ease the financial burden on a family with a sick child by covering their rent for

Three paintings donated by H.E. Ameera A. Binkaram, President of Board of Trustees &

Founding Member of FOCP, by young contemporary emirati artist, Mus’ab Abdulqader Al-Rais

fetched a staggering AED 75,000 between them.

The generous pledges will make the children’s lives better; helping them attend treatment,

communicate and play. The rest of the funds raised will go towards funding a mobile

mammogram machine, enabling women in more remote areas of the UAE to access this vital

Apart from its charitable cause, the annual Oil Barons Ball serves as the venue for the crowning

of the Oil Baron - the prestigious annual award presented to a senior industry executive in

recognition of their outstanding achievement, contribution and continuing commitment to the

Middle East’s energy sector.

At this year’s event, the movers and shakers of the region’s energy sector celebrated the

crowning of Kevin Roberts, Group Managing Director of Hydroserv.

The Welshman has been in the Middle East for the last 20 years. During that time, he grew

his first company Hydrolink from a one-man operation into an international multi-million dollar

enterprise, with operations in Bahrain, Saudi, Qatar, Kuwait, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan before

selling it to set up Hydroserv. A long time supporter of the Oil Barons Ball, Roberts has seen

seven other Oil Barons crowned. This time, it was his turn to be presented with his very own

bespoke Stetson.

“I’m completely overwhelmed and deeply honoured to have been chosen as this year’s Oil

Baron,” said Roberts. “This is indeed a genuine recognition of what I’ve achieved in the last 20

years and a true stamp of approval from my peers and the industry.”

Roberts personally donated 60,000 AED during the evening which has paid for a car for Yahya

Barakate Jaha, so he can now attend his appointments in comfort and with ease. Roberts

has also pledged to donate further time and resources to raising money for Friends of Cancer

Patients throughout his tenure as Oil Baron 2010.

Eileen Michael, founder of the Oil Barons Ball, said: “This year’s ball was really one of the best

ever. To see Kevin Roberts crowned after 20 years of dedicated service to the region was very

special. He is undoubtedly a well-deserved winner of the Oil Baron title. In addition, we were able

to raise an impressive amount of vital funding for the Friends of Cancer Patients charity.

“It has long been our goal to make this event a valuable social and networking event, as well as

to raise as much money as possible for charity. FOCP is a charitable organisation that is close

to all our hearts, and over our three year partnership, we are proud to have successfully raised a

considerable amount of money for them.

“We hope that each year we will build on past successes and continue our valuable partnership

with FOCP,” she added.

After the crowning ceremony, the crowd were entertained by breathtaking performances courtesy

of Trevor Chance productions from the UK. The ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends themed show saw Elvis

Presley, Buddy Holly, Diana Ross, Elton John, and Tom Jones impersonators take to the stage

as the glamorous crowd danced into the night.

FOCP has been the official charity of Oil Barons Ball for three years. The Ball is the single largest

donor to the Sharjah-based charity.

The Oil Barons Ball is held under the patronage of H. E. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum,

President Department of Civil Aviation Government of Dubai and Chairman of the Emirates

Group, and is organised by dmg::events and Pipeline – the energy magazine.

Ends





The Oil Barons Ball is brought to the Middle East by Reflex Publishing, a dmg :: events company.

Headquartered in Dubai, Reflex publishes Pipeline Magazine. Pipeline magazine is one of the

most respected titles in the region’s energy sector, having been published monthly since 1996.

Every issue contains rig statistics, regional project data, exclusive interviews, news, country

reports, analysis and insight. For more information, visit http://www.pipelineconmmunity.com

About dmg:: events:

An international exhibition and publishing company, dmg::events produces more than 250

market-leading trade exhibitions, consumer shows and, fairs each year and publishes more than

40 related magazines, newspapers, directories and market reports. In the UAE, it owns Pipeline,

ADIPEC, the world’s second largest energy event, INDEX, The Big 5, FM Expo, The Office

Exhibition and The Hotel Show. For more information, visit www.dmgevents.com