Cairo: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center announced the winners of the sixth edition of its Research Grant Program for 2026, reaffirming its commitment to supporting specialized scientific research in the Arabic language and promoting its presence as a language of knowledge and academic production.
According to State Information Service Egypt, this edition attracted 623 researchers from 34 countries, reflecting the growing global importance of the program as a major platform for Arabic studies. The program selected seven winning projects across various fields. In the Arabic Lexicon category, Ahmed Mohamed Obaid from the UAE won for his study on palm tree terminology in Emirati dialects, alongside Mohamed Obaidallah from Jordan for his pre-Islamic cultural dictionary project. In teaching Arabic to non-native speakers, Jordanian researchers Nizar Qubailat and Loai Badran won for their project on building linguistic competence for heritage learners.
For the Curricula category, Fawaz Saleh Al-Sulami from Saudi Arabia won for a comparative study analyzing camel imagery in GCC Arabic textbooks.
In Literature and Criticism, the winners included Mohamed Al-Sahbi Al-Allani from Tunisia for his project on French Orientalism, Said Al-Awadi from Morocco for his study on traditional discourse, and Mohamed Shair from Egypt for his research on Naguib Mahfouz's original manuscripts.
Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center Chairman Ali bin Tamim stated that the program continues to serve as a fundamental pillar for Arabic scientific research, enabling scholars to develop robust studies that establish Abu Dhabi as a global hub for cultural creativity. He added that this year's winning projects reflect diverse topics and approaches that enrich Arabic academic production, support its sustainability, and open new horizons for addressing increasingly important linguistic and cultural issues. Since its launch in 2021, the program has awarded 42 research grants benefiting 49 researchers worldwide, showcasing its expanding impact on specialized scientific research and the global academic presence of the Arabic language.