Sheikh Mohammed Honours Great Arab Minds 2025 Winners

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, honoured the six winners of the Great Arab Minds 2025 awards at the Museum of the Future in Dubai.

The Great Arab Minds initiative is the largest Arab platform dedicated to recognising exceptional Arab achievements. It highlights contributions that advance science, knowledge, innovation, culture, and human civilisation, while showcasing Arab talent at regional and global levels.

Sheikh Mohammed said the initiative was created to support both established and emerging Arab minds, invest in their potential, and recognise excellence across research, innovation, technology, medicine, economics, culture, and architecture. He stressed that the programme also aims to strengthen pride in Arab achievement and encourage continued progress.

“Today, we honour Great Arab Minds whose achievements help advance civilisation and build societies,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “From the Museum of the Future, we reaffirm our support for Arab talent committed to innovation, creativity, and excellence.”

Winners of Great Arab Minds 2025

Sheikh Mohammed congratulated the six winners and encouraged them to continue inspiring future generations:

• Engineering and Technology: Professor Abbas El Gamal

• Medicine: Dr. Nabil Seidah

• Economics: Professor Badi Hani

• Natural Sciences: Professor Majed Chergui

• Architecture and Design: Dr. Suad Amiry

• Literature and Arts: Professor Charbel Dagher

He expressed confidence in Arab talent’s ability to lead progress in scientific research, knowledge creation, and culture, supported by strong institutions and ambitious youth across the region.

Focused on the Future

Sheikh Mohammed said the Great Arab Minds initiative will continue to highlight individuals who look to the future with optimism and pursue ambitions without limits.

The ceremony was attended by several senior UAE leaders, including Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, along with ministers, senior officials, scientists, academics, and diplomats.

Leadership Support

His Excellency Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chair of the Higher Committee for the initiative, said Great Arab Minds represents a strategic investment in Arab intellectual and scientific progress. He added that the initiative reflects Sheikh Mohammed’s vision to inspire confidence in Arab capabilities and encourage active participation in shaping the future.

“This platform sends a powerful message to millions of young Arabs to pursue excellence in research, innovation, creativity, and knowledge,” Al Gergawi said.

Category Highlights

• Medicine: Dr. Nabil Seidah was honoured for contributions to cardiovascular health and cholesterol research.

• Economics: Professor Badi Hani was recognised for pioneering work in econometrics and panel data analysis.

• Engineering and Technology: Professor Abbas El Gamal was awarded for major contributions to network information theory.

• Natural Sciences: Professor Majed Chergui was honoured for research on light-matter interactions and ultrafast molecular dynamics.

• Architecture and Design: Dr. Suad Amiry was recognised for preserving Palestinian architectural heritage through documentation and restoration.

• Literature and Arts: Professor Charbel Dagher was honoured for influential work on Arab and Islamic arts, calligraphy, and modern visual arts.

Voices of the Winners

The awardees expressed pride and gratitude, describing the honour as a powerful recognition of their work and a motivation to continue contributing to science, culture, and knowledge in the Arab world.

Selection Process

Winners were chosen by six specialised committees made up of leading ministers, academics, scientists, and international experts. A separate Nominations Committee reviewed and shortlisted candidates.

Widely known as the “Arab Nobel,” the Great Arab Minds initiative continues, for the third consecutive year, to strengthen its role as a leading platform celebrating Arab excellence and inspiring future generations to contribute to global knowledge and human progress.