Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, attended the opening of the fifth Arab Awards Forum, hosted by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award (MBRKA). The two-day event brings together leading Arab intellectuals, scientists, and representatives of regional awards to foster collaboration and strengthen the role of Arab awards in promoting innovation and creativity.

Sheikha Latifa emphasized Dubai’s emerging position as a global meeting point for culture, knowledge, and innovation. “The Forum embodies Dubai’s belief that knowledge and innovation are the cornerstones of progress and that the ideas, curiosity and imagination of people are the nation’s greatest investment,” she said. She highlighted the historic contributions of Arab scholars and creators, reaffirming the need to invest in research and innovation to sustain the region’s legacy.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, Secretary-General of MBRKA and CEO of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, described the forum as critical to advancing Arab awards and fostering partnerships that enhance their impact. Launched in 2015 under directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, MBRKA aims to recognize achievements that contribute to human progress.

“We must move beyond traditional coordination and embrace strategic partnerships that make Arab awards a critical tool for building human capital and advancing knowledge,” Jamal bin Huwaireb said.

Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, Chairman of the Arab Awards Forum and Secretary-General of the King Faisal Prize, praised Dubai’s leadership in hosting the event and highlighted ongoing efforts to elevate Arab awards on the global stage through enhanced collaboration and quality standards.

The forum opened with a ceremony honoring institutions supporting Arab awards, including the Presidency of Mauritania, the Supreme Council for Culture in Egypt, the Greater Amman Municipality, and the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.

Additionally, the Arab Awards Forum launched the ‘Arab Awards Platform,’ an Arabic-language database cataloguing Arab awards to facilitate access, coordination, and transparency among award bodies and stakeholders.

The first day also included a General Assembly meeting reviewing the forum’s progress and planning future cooperation, alongside specialised seminars with experts and thinkers.

Photo credits: Government of Dubai Media Office

Oksana Bozhko

Oksana Bozhko is a Contributor to Dubai Voice.