His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday honoured several key figures from the public and private sectors for their service to the local community in their efforts to enhance national development.

Those honoured received medals of various types and orders at a ceremony held at the Royal Court on the occasion of the King's birthday.

Awards and honourees

Al Hussein Decoration of the First Order for Distinguished Contribution

• Abdul Hamid Shoman, chairman and CEO of the Arab Bank

  For Community service and support for several national institutions

• Khalil Issa Othman, chairman of the Audit Committee at the World Intellectual Property Organisation

  For distinguished public service at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

• Musa Zuhdi Nather, founder of Department of Chemistry at the University of Jordan and Chemistry Labs at Muta University; professor of chemistry at the University of Jordan and the American University of Beirut

  For academic excellence in the field of chemistry

• Zain Jordan

  Local community service

Istiqlal Medal of the Second Order

• Ziad Sharaihah, gastroenterologist and founder of the Jordanian Society for Gastroenterology, and president of the Africa-Middle East Association of Gastroenterology

  For distinguished efforts in the field of medicine and medical education

• Ons Al Saket, women's rights activist and former president of the General Federation of Jordanian Women

For activism in women's rights

Al Hussein Decoration of the Second Order for Distinguished Contribution

• The National Energy Research Centre

  For pioneering efforts in the field of renewable energy

• Arab Telemedia Productions, Emmy Award winner for TV series Al Ijtiyah (The Invasion)

  For contributions to the renaissance of Jordanian drama and enrichment of Arab and Jordanian arts

• CJC Jordan Clothing Company

  For their prominent role in the national economy as a source of exports and employment

• Nazzal Mohammad Nazzal Armouti, president of the Jordan Stone and Marble Exporters Association

  For contributions to economic development

Istiqlal Medal, Third Order

• Khalil Abu Ghannam

  For contributions to technological innovation in agricultural production

• Khalid Suleiman Meri Otoun, Mudawwara area farmer Contributions to organic farming in cooperation with the Jordan River Foundation and the University of New Mexico

Present at the awards ceremony at Raghadan Palace were Their Royal Highnesses Prince Feisal and Prince Raad and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi along with several senior officials.