Alexandria: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has agreed to place the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award 2025 under his patronage, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) said in a statement on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Bibliotheca Alexandrina Director Ahmed Abdullah Zayed welcomed the decision, thanking the president on behalf of the institution and its staff. He emphasized that the president's patronage would enhance the award's standing and visibility at the local and international levels, reflecting state support for the BA's cultural and intellectual role.

Zayed added that the move highlights the president's interest in strengthening the BA's mission as a platform for knowledge exchange and a bridge connecting Egypt with the world. The award is the first international prize launched by the BA. It carries a monetary value of EGP 1 million, along with a gold medal and a certificate of appreciation, and is presented annually on a theme chosen by the award's higher committee.

First announced in December 2024, the award is given to a distinguished individual in fields such as fundamental or applied sciences, literature, arts, social sciences, or the humanities, either in Egypt or abroad, in recognition of an outstanding contribution to humanity. It may also be awarded to an institution that has made an exceptional contribution to the chosen theme. Each year's award is limited to a single field.

The theme for this year's edition is 'Green Technology Applications for Achieving Well-Being and Happiness for Humanity.' The BA said the results will be announced soon. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inaugurated in 2002, is a major cultural and research institution in Alexandria and a modern revival of the ancient Library of Alexandria, one of the most prominent centres of learning in the ancient world.