Under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, honoured the winners of the tenth edition of the Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award today, Wednesday, in Dubai. The award, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, recognises outstanding initiatives and projects that serve the Arabic language and enhance its presence across various fields.
This ceremony marks a decade of excellence in promoting the Arabic language, embodying His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision for advancing the Arabic language, preserving its cultural heritage, and enabling it to adapt to rapid knowledge and technological transformations.
Significance of the Arabic Language
In his address, Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed emphasized, “The Arabic language is a fundamental pillar of our national identity and cultural heritage. Preserving its status requires ongoing efforts to develop its tools, expand its usage, and enhance its presence as a language of knowledge, creativity, and innovation.”
He further stated, “The Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award embodies His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision to enhance the status of our Arabic language and broaden its horizons. Over ten editions, the award has celebrated innovative ideas and initiatives that contribute to the service of the Arabic language, confirming its ability to keep pace with rapid developments and actively participate in shaping the future.”
Achievements Recognised
Sheikh Mansour praised the achievements of the winners in the tenth edition of the award, expressing gratitude for their contributions to developing methods for teaching Arabic and employing modern technologies in service of the language. “We aspire for these initiatives to inspire new generations and motivate further creativity that enhances the presence of our language in various fields of life,” he stated.
Mohammed Ahmed Al Mur, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and Chairman of the award’s board of trustees, remarked, “This tenth edition represents an important milestone in the award’s journey, which has become a platform that celebrates creativity in serving the Arabic language and encourages individuals and institutions to develop quality initiatives that enhance its status and expand its fields of use.”
Innovative Projects in Focus
Al Mur added, “We continue to build on the achievements of the first decade, working to expand participation and encourage projects that combine preserving linguistic heritage with innovation and technology for the service of the Arabic language.”
Bilal Al Budoor, Secretary-General of the Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award, shared, “The diversity of winning initiatives in this tenth edition reflects the breadth of creativity in serving the Arabic language, encompassing education, media, culture, technology, and linguistic planning. We strive to continue attracting impactful initiatives, solidifying the award’s status as a global platform to honour pioneering efforts in serving the Arabic language.”
Award Categories and Winners
In the category of education, awards were presented in two subcategories. The “Basic Evaluation of the Arabic Language”, a project by the UAE’s Ministry of Education, won the award for the best initiative for teaching Arabic in early education. In the category for the best initiative for teaching Arabic in school education (grades 1 to 12), Yemen’s “Fine Arabic” initiative was victorious.
For technology and AI applications, “Sard”, a smart tool for diagnosing reading difficulties in children from kindergarten to sixth grade, by Zayed University’s Arabic Language Research Centre, won the award for the best smart application for Arabic language dissemination and AI uses. The initiative “Mizan” (Arabic Morphological Analyzer) from Egypt claimed the award for the best initiative for technical linguistic processing.
In the media and communication category, the “Bulbul Magazine” (a scientific and cultural magazine for children) from the USA won for the best work in Arabic in media, while Jordan’s “Azraq Platform for Arabic Content”, under the Abdul Hamid Shoman Foundation, took the award for the best work in Arabic in electronic media and social media channels.
In the fields of culture, thought, and knowledge society, Morocco’s “Voice of the Oath” (an educational anthem in service of the Arabic language) won for the best cultural or artistic work serving the Arabic language. Sudan’s “Faal Libraries for Girls”, a project from the Faal Cultural Centre, was awarded for the best initiative to promote reading and knowledge culture.
In the area of language policy, planning, and Arabisation, the “Linguistic Security Initiative” from the Arabic Language Centre at the Abu Dhabi Police Academy won for the best initiative in language policy and planning. For the best Arabisation or translation project, the book “Learning Full of Play” published by the Educators Publishing House in Saudi Arabia was recognised.
In recognition of extraordinary global contributions to the Arabic language, the award honoured British Arabist, historian, and translator Tim Mackintosh-Smith for his distinguished academic journey and pioneering contributions to the study of Arabic language, Arab history, and travel literature, showcasing Arab heritage through his works.
A Financial Commitment
Each winner receives a financial award of 70,000 USD, amounting to a total of 770,000 USD for the eleven winners. This reflects the award’s commitment to supporting initiatives that contribute to the development of the Arabic language and enhance its global presence.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Arabic Language Award is part of the “Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives” and is regarded as the highest recognitional award for efforts made by individuals and institutions in the field of the Arabic language.