Arab League hosts Al-Babtain Arabic Award ceremony

CAIRO: The General Secretariat of the Arab League on Wednesday hosted the inaugural award ceremony for the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language, launched in partnership with the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation and the Arab Parliament. The ceremony marked a significant cultural initiative aimed at advancing the Arabic language and preserving its legacy, in line with the vision of the late Kuwaiti poet and intellectual Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain.

In his opening remarks, Speaker of the Arab Parliament Ahmed Al-Yamahi emphasized the need for a unified Arab strategy to promote the Arabic language. He called for greater coordination among Arab states and institutions to enhance the language’s global standing and integrate it with sustainable development, technology, and modern labor markets. “This award not only honors one of the great cultural figures of our Arab world, but it also encourages intellectuals and creatives to contribute to preserving and revitalizing the Arabic language,” said Al-Yamahi. He underscored the importance of safeguarding Arabic as a symbol of Arab cultural identity, a bridge to the region’s history, and a vessel for civilization.

Arab Parliament Speaker Ahmed Al-Yamahi delivers his speech during the ceremony.- KUNA photos

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation

Al-Yamahi also warned of growing challenges facing the Arabic language, including declining daily use, the prevalence of foreign terms, the dominance of foreign languages in education and research, and the lack of sufficient Arabic content in the digital sphere. He urged stronger support for institutions working to embed Arabic in modern life and inspire future generations. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain Cultural Foundation, Saud Abdulaziz Al-Babtain, reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to its founding mission. He noted that the partnership with the Arab Parliament reflects a renewed pledge to safeguard Arabic, prioritize it among Arab communities, and promote it globally—particularly among non-native speakers.

“Abdulaziz Saud Al-Babtain entrusted us with a cultural legacy, and we pledged before His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and before Arab intellectuals to preserve it,” he said. “From the very beginning, we worked to accelerate our projects and pursue his enduring dream of protecting the Arab identity through language.” The award’s first edition was launched in May 2024, with nominations open until November 15. It featured two main categories: one for individual contributions to Arabic language digitization, and another for institutions advancing language planning and policy.

The $40,000 individual award was presented to Hassan Al-Nahhas for his project, The Miracle in Computerizing the Arabic Language, while the $60,000 institutional award went to the King Salman International Academy of the Arabic Language for its Arabic Language Index project. The winners were selected through a rigorous review process led by the award’s Board of Trustees and a panel of senior experts, ensuring transparency and professionalism.

Representing the Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit at the event was Ambassador Dr Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Social Affairs Sector. The event was attended by Kuwaiti Ambassador to Egypt Ghanim Al-Ghanim, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the Arab League Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, alongside a host of Arab ambassadors, intellectuals, writers and media professionals. The ceremony affirmed the award’s growing stature and its cultural significance across the Arab world. — KUNA