More than 1,800 nominations for the Mohammed bin Rashid Knowledge Award 2026

DUBAI, 15 APRIL / WAM / The Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award held a meeting during which it reviewed the applications for nominations for the award in its 2026 edition and the extent to which they meet all standards and conditions, in a step that enhances the reliability of the award and supports its firm commitment to highlighting the most prominent innovative achievements in the fields of knowledge and human development.

The Board of Trustees assigned the Advisory Committee to undertake the task of studying nomination requests and submitting its recommendations regarding a preliminary short list, provided that the process of final review and selection of candidates will be completed during the next meeting of the Council.

The meeting was attended by His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, Secretary General of the Award and Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, Dr. Ali Ahmed Al-Ghafli, Vice Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University, Alexander Jacob Boris Zehnder, member of the Board of Trustees and representative of Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, Dr. Muhammad Othman Al-Khasht, member of the Board of Trustees and former President of Cairo University, and Professor Kazuhiko Takeuchi, member of the Board of Trustees and director and professor of the Integrated Research System for Sustainability Sciences at the Tokyo University Institutes for Advanced Studies. Professor Nick Rawlins, advisor to the former vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford and former vice-chancellor of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Jason Chase, member of the Board of Trustees and President of the Institute of International Education, and Dr. David Bennett, along with Dr. Wes Harry, advisor and secretary of the meeting, and advisor Dr. Hani Turki.

The nomination requests submitted this year reflect a remarkable level of interaction, as the award received through its official website more than 1,800 registration applications, including institutions and individuals from various countries of the world, which reflects the growing international presence of the award and consolidates its pioneering role in supporting knowledge-based development paths.

The Council noted that some of the applications represent qualitative contributions in the areas of knowledge production and dissemination, which confirms the excellence of this year’s applicants and the diversity of their scientific and professional backgrounds.

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb said, “The remarkable volume of global participation we are witnessing this year reflects the growing role of the knowledge system in supporting sustainable development paths and promoting human progress. In this context, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award continues its efforts in appreciating influential ideas that have changed people’s lives for the better and honoring individuals and institutions who have contributed to building the global knowledge scene and shaping its future.”

His Excellency affirmed his firm commitment to providing a supportive environment that enhances the culture of innovation, stimulates ideas and minds, and supports qualitative contributions capable of advancing knowledge societies around the world.

The members of the Board of Trustees highlighted the distinguished records of previous winners of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award, as a number of them subsequently received prestigious international honors, including the Nobel Prize, which reflects the award’s pioneering role in highlighting influential leaders in the fields of knowledge.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the Council members expressed their deep appreciation to all the institutions and individuals who submitted their nominations for the 2026 edition… valuing their efforts in supporting the global knowledge system and promoting meaningful societal contributions.

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