Doha: A number of officials and honorees of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding said that the award has become an international beacon of knowledge thanks to its support for and recognition of translators of various languages across the world.

According to Qatar News Agency, they also praised the award's continued openness to new languages and its support for translators in the Arab world, something that strongly motivates them to carry on producing serious and important work.

During the honoring ceremony, Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees Dr. Hassan Al Naama expressed his appreciation for the efforts of HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani in establishing the award, which has made Doha a hub for dialogue and knowledge.

Dr. Al Naama said that HH the Father Amir realized early on that bringing the peoples of the world closer together is the best way to build fruitful cooperation and lasting international understanding, expressing gratitude and deep appreciation for this wise vision and generous contribution whose effects remain evident in the course of culture and humanity.

The Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees said that human heritage, of which Arab heritage is an integral part, requires growth and renewal, for which translation is utilized, revitalizing and enriching human knowledge, and doing just as the forefathers once did when they built pillars of science and civilization.

For his part, the Award's Head of Media Office Abdulrahman Al Marri said that this edition of the award was exceptional in several respects, noting that the number of winners this year reached 28 male and female translators, a development which reflects translation's growing impact.

Al Marri also emphasized the award's firm commitment to holding high standards and criteria since its inception, adopting rigorous evaluation and scrutiny to ensure integrity and fine quality.

He added that the award aims to enhance its global presence not only to honor winners but also to contribute to advancing dialogue and understanding among nations and communities, noting that what sets the award apart is its exclusive focus on the translation movement, while also maintaining transparency, precision, and responsibility.

The Award's Head of Media Office said that as it enters its new decade, the award will continue its renewed approach, strengthening its influence across various fields and levels, with English remaining a constant, yet while also focusing on languages such as Italian and Chinese, in addition to less widely spoken languages such as Fulani and Thai, with the aim of highlighting translation efforts between Arabic and these languages and encouraging translators who work with them.

Al Marri stressed that the award will continue to support translation and elevate it globally, while maintaining the high standards that have earned it a distinguished reputation both in the Arab world and internationally.

German translator Larissa Bender, who specializes in Arabic literature and winner of first place in the Arabic-German translation category, for her translation of Mustafa Khalifa's "The Shell: Memoirs of a Hidden Observer", said that translation is a cultural and human act that builds bridges of understanding between peoples, even though it is often carried out behind the scenes.

In the translators' speech, Bender highlighted the decline in both moral and material appreciation for translators, citing the state of Arabic translation in Germany and the noticeable stagnation among publishing houses and media outlets. These factors, she explained, limit the dissemination of Arabic literature and weaken opportunities for a deeper understanding of the region's experiences. She also drew attention to the existential challenges posed by machine translation and artificial intelligence, underscoring the need to preserve the value of human translation.

Bender affirmed that translation will remain a necessity, not a luxury, and a message of hope capable of bringing cultures closer and keeping dialogue alive. She praised the global impact of the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding.

For his part, Professor of Turkish Language at Ain Shams University in Egypt, Dr. Abdelrazek Barakat, confirmed that he was honored for his translation of the book "The History of Contemporary Turkish Thought" from Turkish into Arabic. This monumental work comprises two volumes totaling over 900 pages.

In a statement to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Barakat explained that the book blends the depth of Islamic intellectual heritage with an understanding of Western philosophies, relying on sources in eight languages. This, he noted, made the translation process extremely difficult, particularly with regard to precise philosophical, social, and psychological terminology.

He praised the award's continued openness to new languages, describing it as a "nurturing father" that supports translators in the Arab world after many years of limited assistance and recognition, something that gives them a strong incentive to continue producing rigorous and significant work.

Meanwhile, translator and former diplomat Suleiman Tumcini told QNA that he was honored with the Achievement Award as the compiler of the first comprehensive Arabic-Albanian dictionary in the history of linguistic relations between the two languages.

He noted that he has translated several prominent literary and intellectual works, including Kalila wa Dimna, One Thousand and One Nights, and The Balance in Islamic Religion.

Fathi Mahdiyu, who was the first to translate the meanings of the Holy Quran into Albanian, expressed his great happiness at being honored within the award, considering this recognition a profound honor and an opportunity to take pride in his long career serving culture and translation.

Egyptian translator Dr. Mohamed Abdo Abu Al Ula, who won in the English-to-Arabic translation category for his translation of "Limits of Liberalism: Tradition, Individualism, and the Crisis of Freedom" by American thinker Mark T. Mitchell, said that the book focuses on the relationship between modernity and tradition, and criticizes the neglect or hostility towards tradition under the banners of modernity or liberalism, calling this approach a philosophical error and a social and political catastrophe.

He stressed that the Award has become one of the world's most important prizes in the field of translation, thanks to its support for translators and its wide linguistic diversity. He added that it represents a significant source of recognition and motivation for researchers and translators alike.