“The Geniuses of the Arabs” are Arab names that we want as role models for Arab generations

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, congratulated the winners of the “Geniuses of the Arabs 2025” award.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, in a blog post on the “X” platform, yesterday: “We congratulate the winners of the (Arab Geniuses 2025) award: Professor Abbas Al-Jamal in the Engineering and Technology category, Dr. Nabil Saidah in the Medicine category, Professor Badi Hani in the Economics category, Professor Majid Sharqi in the Natural Sciences category, Dr. Souad Al-Amiri in the Architecture and Design category, Professor Charbel Dagher in the Literature and Arts category, Asmaa We want an Arab woman to be a role model for Arab generations, illuminating their path towards the future with education and knowledge.”

His Highness affirmed confidence in the capabilities and capabilities of Arab competencies to bring about comprehensive qualitative transformations in the scene of scientific research and global cognitive and cultural progress, with the expertise of its geniuses, and the support of its initiatives and institutions and the ambition of its youth.

The Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, confirmed that the launch of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the “Geniuses of the Arabs” project, is the largest actual appreciation for distinguished Arab minds in their fields and specializations, and it is the most important tangible strategic investment in empowering the minds of our region, and encouraging their reverse migration to contribute to a new Arab cultural renaissance.

He said that the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to revive Arab determination and creativity is supported by a comprehensive strategy represented by the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award, to enhance the confidence of the Arab person in his abilities, potentials and resources, and to motivate him to take the initiative to actively participate in building the present of his society and the future of this region, which has affected and influenced for centuries the march of human civilization in science, literature, thought and architecture.

Muhammad Abdullah Al Gergawi praised what the Arab geniuses have achieved in the fields of medicine, engineering, technology, science, architecture, arts and literature, saying: “Honoring the Arab geniuses 2025 is a motivating message for millions of Arab youth to enter the field of competition, excellence, success and achievement in various fields of research, innovation, creativity and knowledge, and create with their own hands a bright future for Arab civilization and humanity.”

The ceremony honoring the winners of the “Arab Geniuses Award 2025” in Dubai marked the most important gathering of Arab scholars and thinkers, in the presence of a large number of officials, academics, scholars, university leaders, technology companies, ambassadors, and specialists in the award’s six fields.

Winners

The “Arab Geniuses Award 2025” crowned a winner for each of its six categories: medicine, economics, engineering and technology, natural sciences, architecture and design, and literature and arts.

In the medicine category of the “Geniuses of the Arabs 2025” award, Dr. Nabil Saidah won, whose medical and research achievements contributed to enhancing heart health and understanding how the body regulates cholesterol levels. His long scientific career focused on protecting millions of people from heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Saidah’s research and discoveries contributed to the development of a new generation of effective medicines. He also published more than 820 scientific papers, and his work has been cited more than 71,000 times.

Professor Badi Hani won the title of “Geniuses of the Arabs 2025” in the economics category, for his pioneering scientific achievements in econometrics and the development of economic analysis tools, especially in the field of economic dashboard analysis, and enabling researchers to study data in a deeper and more accurate way, by combining information from different time periods and multiple sources.

Professor Hani, who has published more than 200 influential scientific papers and academic books, also developed the econometric model to reach more accurate assessments of the effects of economic policies in the long term, and across different geographical regions, and many governments and institutions today adopt his methods to evaluate the efficiency of economic policies and public spending.

Professor Abbas Al-Jamal received the title of “Geniuses of the Arabs 2025” for the Engineering and Technology category, in exchange for his pioneering scientific contributions to the theory of network information, which established modern concepts that changed the course of digital communications, laid the mathematical foundations for understanding the maximum limits of the performance of communications networks, and upon which modern communications protocols around the world relied.

Professor Abbas Al-Gamal also contributed, who has published more than 230 research papers and achieved 35 patents in networking systems, programmable gate arrays, and digital imaging devices and systems. He has influential scientific books in the development of programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), which are important in the design of electronic circuits and advanced computing systems. He also worked on developing the Routing Architecture used today in designing electronic applications based on smart chips. Professor Al-Gamal also led the development of basic CMOS image sensors in many Smartphone cameras and digital devices.

Professor Majid Sharqi won the “Arab Geniuses 2025” award in the natural sciences category, for his outstanding contributions to understanding the interactions of light with matter, and developing techniques and applications that enabled scientists to study ultra-fast movement within molecules and materials at the atomic level with unprecedented accuracy.

Professor Majid Sharqi, who has published more than 450 scientific papers, with more than 23,000 international scientific citations, also led the development of ultrafast X-ray technologies, which enhanced understanding of the interactions between light and matter, and opened broad horizons for scientific research in chemistry, physics, materials science, and renewable energy. He invented modern research tools, such as two-dimensional ultraviolet radiation and ultrafast circular dioptrics, which enhanced the ability of researchers to study complex biological systems and advanced solid materials.

Dr. Suad Al-Amiri won the title of “Geniuses of the Arabs 2025” in the architecture and design category, for her vital contributions to preserving the Palestinian architectural heritage, documenting and restoring historical buildings and reusing them in a way that serves the community and enhances the architectural identity. Her work has contributed to preserving the Palestinian urban heritage, through the restoration of a wide range of buildings according to their historical design.

Dr. Souad Al-Amiri devoted her efforts to documenting architecture in her country, trained successive generations of craftsmen, and issued studies, works, and references that protect her country’s historical architectural knowledge and culture through documentation, which is as important as restoration. Among the most prominent projects she led was the project to revive the historical heart of Birzeit, and the project to rehabilitate 50 Palestinian villages, which was launched in 2005 in order to preserve the historical heritage and cultural heritage of the Palestinian countryside.

Professor Charbel Dagher won the title of “Geniuses of the Arabs 2025” in the category of Literature and Arts, for his distinction in works that are considered essential references in the study of Arab and Islamic arts and craftsmanship and modern visual arts. He is a poet, critic, and academic who combines a creative sense with research precision.

Over the course of more than 50 years, Professor Dagher has built a rich literary and research career that has contributed to the development of aesthetic studies and Arab artistic criticism. His writings and research allowed him to be open to multiple schools of thought, to formulate approaches that combine heritage and contemporaneity, and to integrate poetry with aesthetic studies and artistic criticism, with significant contributions to the analysis of modern Islamic and Arab arts.

The winners extended their thanks and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, for launching and sponsoring the largest Arab project of its kind to appreciate, empower and nurture Arab minds.

Professor Abbas Al-Jamal said: “My sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for his exceptional vision in launching (The Geniuses of the Arabs), and honoring in this way is extremely meaningful and impactful for me.”

In turn, Professor Majid Al-Sharqi said: “I am Algerian of Syrian origin. I was born in Morocco, and grew up in Algeria and Lebanon, and thus the Arab world from Morocco to the East is united in me. For me personally, this award is not only the highest appreciation for my achievements, but it touches me deeply because it comes from an Arab country.”

Dr. Suad Al-Amiri said: “In 1981, when I decided to live in the city of Ramallah, the goal was to study traditional architecture in rural Palestine, and 10 years later I established the (Riwaq) Center, whose goal was and still is to document, restore and rehabilitate architectural properties in Palestine. Winning this award, which is referred to as the (Arab Nobel Prize), is a great honor for me and for the Riwaq Center.”

Professor Paddy Hani said: “This award is not only a tribute to my work, but it is also a tribute to the people and places that have shaped me; My family, my teachers, my city, and the Arab world that embraced my first dreams.”

As for Dr. Nabil Sidah, he said: “My father’s saying that knowledge is something that no one can take away from you has become the principle that has guided me throughout my career. Your trust in me represents a driving force for Arab scientists to be role models for future generations.” “I pledge to continue serving science with the same passion that has always motivated me.”

Professor Charbel Dagher said in his speech: “Betting on Arabic remained a decisive factor in everything I did. Teaching, writing, and research, to the point that I live in Arabic, and we cannot be outside our language, outside our culture. Allow me to share this award with those who helped me, and gratitude is extended to everyone who worked and is working to ensure that Arabic remains a language of science, knowledge, and a living culture.”

“Arab Geniuses” Award Committees

The Economics Committee for the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award for the year 2025 was chaired by the Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, with the membership of the Governor of the Dubai International Financial Center, Issa Kazim, the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund, Dr. Jihad Azour, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for the Middle East and a Senior Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Dr. Rabah Arezki, and the Dean of the College of Business and Economics at the United Arab Emirates University, Dr. Muhammad. Madi, and New South Policy Center Fellow, Farid Belhaj.

The Engineering and Technology Committee for the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award for the year 2025 was chaired by the Minister of Education, Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, and its membership included the Executive Vice President of Khalifa University, Dr. Arif Sultan Al Hammadi, the Dean of the Dubai Future Academy, Dr. Muhammad Qasim, the Director of Al Hussein Technical University, Professor Ismail Al Hanti, and the Regional Director of the International Telecommunication Union, Adel Darwish.

The Literature and Arts Committee for the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award for the year 2025 included the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, the Chairman of the Committee, Mohammed Al-Murr, and the members, the Director of the Library of Alexandria, Dr. Ahmed Abdullah Zayed Hijab, and the Executive Director of the Arab Fund for Culture and Arts (AFAC), Professor Rima Mesmar.

The Medical Committee for the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award for the year 2025 included the Executive Director of “Dubai Health” and the Director of the Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, the Chairman of the Committee, Dr. Amer Ahmed Sharif, and the members, Professor Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University, Professor Elias Zerhouni, the Director General of the Dubai Health Authority, Dr. Alawi Al-Sheikh Ali, and Professor of Neurosciences in the Department of Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Michigan, Professor Hoda Aqeel.

The Natural Sciences Committee for the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award for the year 2025 included the Senior Vice President for Scientific Research and Director General of the Scientific Research Institute at New York University Abu Dhabi, a university professor of research in biology, biochemistry, and molecular cytology as head of the committee, Professor Siham al-Din Hussein Galadari, the Dean of the Kennedy School of Science and a professor of physics at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Noureddine Melikshi, and an honorary professor of chemistry at the American University in Cairo, Dr. Jihan Rajai, a researcher at the Thomas Jefferson Laboratory in the United States, Dr. Latifa Al-Wadghiri, and a professor at the Core Int Institute for Mathematical Sciences at New York University Abu Dhabi, Dr. Nader Al-Masmoudi.

The committee in the Architecture and Design category included the Dean of the College of Engineering and Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Hashim Sarkis, and the members, Dean of the School of Architecture at the Royal College of Art, Dr. Adrian Lahoud, and the Founding Director of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Professor of Architectural Technology, Director of the Doctoral Program in Design Studies, Professor Ali Malkawi.

The nominations follow-up committee within the Supreme Committee of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” initiative also included the Assistant Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs, Hoda Al-Hashemi, Partner and Head of the Consulting Department at KPMG, Shukrallah Haddad, the founder and Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Majara” Company, Abdulsalam Heikal, the President of LinkedIn in the Middle East, North Africa and emerging markets in Africa and Europe, Ali Matar, and the Secretary-General of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” initiative, Saeed. Theoretical.

Hosting the “Museum of the Future” ceremony honoring the “Geniuses of the Arabs” for the third year in a row was a qualitative addition to the position it established as the official headquarters of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” initiative, which includes a permanent research and knowledge center to support the journey of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” and support them in expanding the scopes and impact of their innovations and their scientific, creative, research and knowledge production.

Closing of the honoring ceremony

The honoring ceremony, which was held at the Museum of the Future, constituted the closing chapter of the third annual edition of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” Award 2025, after honoring the winners chosen by the relevant committees, after receiving and evaluating thousands of nominations, where the Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Gergawi, chaired the Supreme Committee of the “Geniuses of the Arabs” initiative.