Doha: HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), honored the winners of the third Arab Book Award during an official ceremony held Tuesday evening at the Grand Hyatt Hotel. The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Their Excellencies, Sheikhs and Ministers, members of diplomatic missions accredited to the State of Qatar, scholars, academics, researchers, heads of cultural and scientific institutions, and a large number of Arab media representatives.
According to Qatar News Agency, the Arab Book Award, launched by the State of Qatar in March 2023, focuses on books written in Arabic and aims to honor researchers, publishers, and institutions contributing to the Arab book industry. In the single-book category of Linguistic and Literary Studies, Abdullah Al Rashid won first place, while Amer Abu Muharib and Khalid Abdul Raouf Al Jabr secured second and third places, respectively.
In the Historical Studies category, focusing on Arab and Islamic history from the end of the 6th century AH to the end of the 12th century AH, Nasser Al Rabat and Ahmed Mahmoud Ibrahim shared the second place. HE Sheikh Thani also presented awards in Sharia Sciences and Islamic Studies, focusing on biography and Hadith studies, with Ahmed Sanoubar winning second place and Muhammad Anas Sarmini receiving an encouragement award.
The Social and Philosophical Studies category, which focused on intellectual and economic studies, saw Sawsan Al-Otaibi winning third place. Yasser Al-Dumyati won in the field of dictionaries, encyclopedias, and textual criticism for his encyclopedia. The Achievement category's winners included Dr. Kian Ahmed Hazem from Iraq, Dr. Muhammad Suhail Taqoush from Lebanon, Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Musfir from Qatar, Mukhtar Al Ghouth from Mauritania, Muqbil Al Tam A Ahmadi from Yemen, and Dr. Nadia Mustafa from Egypt.
Institutional Achievement Awards were presented to the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage in the UAE, Dar Al Ihyaa Publishing and Distribution from Morocco, and Dar Kunooz Al Maarefa from Jordan. Dr. Hassan Al Naama, Secretary-General of the Award, emphasized the Award's role in advancing Arab culture and fostering intellectual and cognitive exchange.
Professor of International Relations at Qatar University, Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Mesfer, expressed pride in the Award, highlighting its celebration of Arab researchers and writers while promoting the preservation of Arab cultural heritage. He noted the importance of Arab literature in raising awareness and conveying cultural identity, with the recognition encouraging continued contributions to Arab thought.
The ceremony, held under the auspices of the Qatar National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, began with an introductory film showcasing key moments of this edition, including scientific seminars and field visits to several Arab countries. The third edition of the award marked a milestone, fostering collaboration with numerous local and regional institutions and receiving over 1,000 entries from 41 countries.