Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), a division of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has declared the winners of the sixth edition of its Research Grants Programme for 2026. The announcement underscores ALC's dedication to fostering specialized scientific research in the Arabic language and its related fields, while also enhancing the language's regional and international stature as a language of knowledge and academic contribution.
According to Emirates News Agency, the Research Grants Programme, initiated by the ALC in 2021, is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at encouraging researchers to undertake original scientific studies and projects. These efforts contribute to expanding the understanding of the Arabic language and enriching the Arabic library with substantial research across various scientific and humanities disciplines. The sixth edition attracted significant interest, with 623 applications from researchers across 34 countries, highlighting the increasing global engagement in Arabic language studies and the programme's status as a pivotal platform for Arabic studies specialists.
The programme selected seven research projects across four knowledge fields. In the Arabic Dictionary category, two projects were chosen: 'Palm Tree Vocabulary in UAE Dialects: A Linguistic Study' by Ahmed Mohamed Obaid from the UAE and 'Keys to Heritage: A Lexicon of Pre-Islamic Society and Folk Culture' by Mohammed Obaidallah from Jordan. In the Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers category, the project 'Inherited Language and Acquired Tongue: Towards Building Linguistic Competence for the Inheritors of Arabic' by Nizar Qpilat and Loay Badran from Jordan was selected.
In the Curriculum Development category, the grant was awarded to 'The Image of Camels in Educational Curricula in the GCC Countries: A Comparative Study in Semiotic Transformations and a Historical Tracking of the Presentation, Approach, and Treatment Strategies in Arabic Language Textbooks' by Fawaz Saleh Al-Sulami from Saudi Arabia. In the Literature and Criticism category, three projects were recognized: 'French Orientalism and Arabic Literature: History, Trajectories, and Outcomes' by Mohamed Sahbi Alllani from Tunisia; 'Crafts and Letters: The Impact of Shadow Masters in Shaping Heritage Discourse' by Said Laouadi from Morocco; and 'The Original Text: The Manuscripts and Notebooks of Naguib Mahfouz' by Mohamed Shoair from Egypt.
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, remarked, 'The Research Grants Programme continues to play a crucial role in supporting scientific research in the Arabic language. It provides distinguished researchers the opportunity to develop their scientific projects and produce robust studies that enhance the role of Arabic as a language of science, culture, and knowledge, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi's position as a regional and global hub for cultural research and creativity.'
Dr. bin Tamim further noted, 'The winning projects this year exhibit a remarkable diversity in research topics and methodologies. This diversity enriches intellectual fields associated with the Arabic language, supports Arab scientific output, and opens new horizons for researchers to tackle linguistic, cultural, and intellectual challenges of increasing significance.'
The announcement of the 2026 winners highlights the programme's ongoing success in empowering researchers, encouraging original scientific contributions, and building a solid knowledge base for Arabic studies. This aligns with the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's vision of promoting culture and strengthening the knowledge economy.
Since its inception in 2021, the Research Grants Programme has awarded a total of 42 grants, benefiting 49 researchers globally. This reflects the programme's growing impact in supporting specialized scientific research and enhancing the presence of the Arabic language in the global academic and cultural landscape.