Abu Dhabi, Dec. 9th, 2008 --President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has conferred a first class Order of Independence on Abdul Halim Caracalla, founder of the famous Lebanese Caracalla Dance Theatre.

The honour was bestowed on Mr. Caracalla as a token of recognition of his enormous contributions to the contemporary Arab art in general and Arab theatre in particular.

Caracalla was decorated with the Order of Independence by HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Also present were His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Mohammed Khalef Al Mazroui, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage Authority.

As decorated Caracalla, Sheikh Mohammed congratulated him for obtaining the Order of Independence and also for the success of his musical on the life and achievements of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which was staged in Abu Dhabi on the 37th anniversary of the UAE's National Day.

Sheikh Mohammed hailed the show as a fitting tribute to a great leader whose achievements will ever be celebrated by many generations to come..

For his part, Caracalla accepted the Order of Independence, saying it would be an impetus for more creativity.(WAM/MA)