Who he you may well ask.
Dr Zahi Hawass has headed up the Supreme Council Of Antiquities in Egypt for the last six years. As such he is responsible for the archaeological excavations throughout the country, it’s musuems and those travelling exhibitions that go around the world.
With his trademark cowboy hat he has become quite a television personality who has raised the profile of Egyptian antiquities ( if they weren’t high enough already) so that he is quite a recognisable figure.
His wikipedia biography points out that he some critics. It would be hard for him not to have some since has greatly improved the way some sites are looked after. You can’t walk around and remove things as souvenirs from spoil heaps as easily as you once could.
So here is an award that is justified. His efforts have greatly aided Egyptian tourism and if they aren’t all of his own making, so be it. What matters is that what Egypt offers the tourist is worth seeing and it is protected for future generations to see.