Amman, Jordan: Under the patronage of HRH Princess Ghida Talal, the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation held a ceremony honouring the winners of the 44th Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers and the 20th Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Children’s Literature for 2026.
Princess Ghida presented the awards and commemorative shields to the winners in the presence of Sabih Al-Masri, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees; Valentina Qussisiya, the Foundation’s CEO; Senator Haifa Al-Najjar, Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Children’s Literature Award; and Dr. Labib Al-Khadra, Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Arab Researchers Award.
In her address, Princess Ghida said: “Scientists need an environment that believes in them, resources that meet their needs, and time for research that is not consumed by daily responsibilities. They also need partners in our region and around the world. This is where institutions such as the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation have a role to play.
“Forty-four years ago, when scientific research was not a priority for many in our region, this Foundation recognised that Arab minds deserved investment and honoured generations of Arab researchers. Our ambition is for the success of Arab scientists to become the norm, rather than an exception we celebrate.”
Addressing an audience of senators, members of parliament, officials, ambassadors, intellectuals, researchers and representatives of local and Arab media, Qussisiya said: “Many achievements that transformed human lives began with a question someone chose to voice, refusing to settle for a ready-made answer. Humanity owes much of its progress to this passion for discovery and curiosity.”
She added that curiosity alone, however strong, is insufficient without those who believe in curious minds and provide opportunities to experiment, persevere and continue their work.
“This is precisely the role the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation has undertaken: to help science and creativity become more present and influential in our Arab societies, and to provide those working in these fields with the opportunities they deserve,” she said.
Qussisiya explained that the Foundation views investment in knowledge as a long-term, cumulative process whose benefits may take years to emerge. Its impact, she noted, can begin with a small idea and extend to people and generations yet to come.
She added that investment in knowledge and people has been central to the Foundation’s mission since its establishment by Arab Bank in 1978. Since the launch of its awards programme in 1982, the Foundation has continued to recognise Arab scientific and creative achievement, guided by the belief that recognising excellence encourages others to pursue their ambitions.
During the ceremony, Dr. Al-Khadra announced Lebanese scientist Dr. Huda Zoghbi as the inaugural recipient of the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for International Scientific Excellence for 2026.
Dr. Zoghbi is among the world’s leading scientists in neuroscience and genetics. Her discoveries, particularly the identification of the genetic cause of Rett syndrome, have transformed understanding of neurological disorders and opened new avenues for research into their causes and potential treatments.
Al-Najjar and Al-Khadra also announced the winners of the Children’s Literature and Arab Researchers awards.
Syrian writer Mirna Alloush won first place in the 2026 Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Children’s Literature for her story, “My Cake Is Crooked… But It Is Tall.” This year’s award focused on stories exploring the theme “Childhood: A World of Challenges,” written for children aged six and above.
The 44th Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers recognized 12 researchers across 12 research topics within six scientific fields. The winners included five Palestinians, four Egyptians, two Jordanians and one Tunisian.