Global celebration of linguistic creativity in Riyadh
In a distinguished cultural event, the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language celebrated the awarding of its fourth annual international prize on Sunday evening in a grand ceremony held in Riyadh. The event was held under the patronage of His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture and Chairman of the Academy's Board of Trustees, and in the presence of Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Hamed bin Mohammed Fayez, and a large gathering of senior officials, diplomats, researchers, and academics interested in the Arabic language from around the world, reflecting the growing importance of the prize on the international stage.
Background of the award and the role of the complex in Vision 2030
This recognition comes in light of the pivotal role played by the King Salman Global Academy for the Arabic Language, established by a Cabinet decision in September 2020, to serve as a global authority in the service of the Arabic language. The Academy's work aligns with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and the Human Capability Development Program, which emphasize the importance of preserving the Kingdom's cultural and linguistic identity and enhancing its global standing. The award, which has become one of the Academy's most prominent initiatives, aims to stimulate innovation and encourage individuals and institutions to make significant contributions that serve the Arabic language in the digital age and ensure its active presence in various scientific, technological, and societal fields.
The importance of the event and its expected impact
The significance of the award transcends mere monetary recognition, serving as an international platform to acknowledge outstanding contributions to the Arabic language. Locally, the award reinforces the Kingdom's position as a leader in cultural and linguistic endeavors within the Arab and Islamic world. Regionally, it fosters collaboration among Arab researchers and institutions, encouraging the exchange of expertise and the development of joint initiatives. Internationally, honoring winners from the United States and diverse Arab countries underscores the universality of the award's message, encouraging non-Arabic speakers to study and contribute to its enrichment, thus serving the objectives of cultural diplomacy and strengthening intercultural dialogue.
Details of the awards and outstanding winners
The ceremony honored the winners in the four award categories, with prizes totaling SAR 1.6 million distributed, amounting to SAR 200,000 for each winner in both the individual and institutional categories. The categories included:
- Teaching and Learning Arabic: The award was won by Dr. Mahmoud Mohamed Adel Al-Batal (United States of America) in the individual category, and the Global Curricula Foundation (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) in the institutional category.
- Arabic language computing and its service with modern technologies: Dr. Ahmed Miloud Kharsi (Algeria) won it in the individual category, and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) won it in the institutional category.
- Arabic language research and scientific studies: The award was shared by Dr. Ramzi Munir Baalbaki (Lebanon) and Dr. Saad Abdel Aziz Maslouh (Egypt) in the individual category, and the Educational Center for the Arabic Language for the Gulf States (United Arab Emirates) in the institutional category.
- Spreading linguistic awareness and creating community initiatives: Dr. Mazen Abdul Qader Al-Mubarak (Syria) won in the individual category, and the National Coalition for the Arabic Language in Morocco (Kingdom of Morocco) won in the institutional category.
The Secretary-General of the Academy, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, confirmed that the process of selecting the winners was carried out according to strict scientific standards supervised by specialized international arbitration committees, to ensure transparency, integrity and to reach the most creative and influential works.
Future aspirations for serving the Arabic language
In his address delivered on behalf of His Highness the Minister of Culture, the Deputy Minister emphasized the unwavering support of the wise leadership for strengthening the role of the Arabic language, affirming that culture is a fundamental pillar in building societies and achieving sustainable development. This ceremony is a culmination of ongoing efforts and a testament to the Kingdom's steadfast commitment to serving its timeless language, not only as a fundamental component of its identity, but also as a living language capable of keeping pace with the times and contributing effectively to the advancement of human knowledge.
