Great minds, it is often said, think alike. Except that in reality, it is diversity of thought and approach that leads humanity towards a better future. Whether it be in the arts, academia or the hard sciences, innovative ideas and an unwillingness to be bound by convention have led to pivotal breakthroughs such as the germ theory of disease or plate tectonics.
Such originality has been highlighted recently with the announcement of this year’s Great Arab Minds winners. Launched in 2022 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the award supports each winner’s research with Dh100 million ($27.2 million). Aiming to “celebrate scientists, thinkers and innovators”, Great Arab Minds has spurred advancements in fields such as medicine, economics, engineering, architecture and the arts.
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, presents an award to Prof Yasmine Belkaid in recognition of her work in medicine. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Sheikh Mohammed with the six award winners at the Museum of the Future in Dubai. Photo: Dubai Media Office -
Professor Yacine Ait-Sahalia was recognised for his contributions to the field of economics. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Sheikh Mohammed hailed the achievements of the six regional prize winners. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Prof Oussama Khatib, a Syrian, won for his research into robotics. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Prof Omar Yaghi, born into a Palestinian refugee family, was honoured for his work in chemistry. Antonie Robertson / The National -
Iraqi painter Dia Al Azzawi won in the arts category. Antonie Robertson / The National
From award-winning Palestinian author and architect Suad Amiry’s work to preserve her country’s architectural heritage to pioneering Egyptian academic Abbas El Gamal’s contributions to network information theory, the sheer variation among this year’s winners underlines the talent that exists in and from this region – and this is talent that is increasingly providing leadership at a global level.
Less than a week ago, the UN General Assembly approved Iraq’s former president Barham Salih as the next head of the UN refugee agency – a serious responsibility as the organisation faces the twin challenges of record levels of global displacement and deep funding cuts. In October, another high-profile UN body – Unesco – chose former Egyptian minister Khaled El Enany as its new director general, making him the first Arab to lead the agency. In the same month, the UAE’s Razan Al Mubarak was returned for a second term as president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Earlier this year, fellow Emirati, Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais, was elected as the first female head of the UN’s World Tourism Organisation.
In addition to such high-profile achievements, other people from the Middle East are continuing to make their mark at the highest levels internationally. Among them is Omar Yaghi, a scientist born to a Palestinian refugee family in Jordan, who was named a joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry this year. The Arab world has continued to honour many of its own high fliers, such as this year’s Sheikh Zayed Book Award winner Hoda Barakat, an accomplished Lebanese writer, and the Takreem Awards that just took place in Cairo.
Such achievement has been coupled with a wave of intellectual and cultural vitality sweeping the region. A string of new museums covering the arts, national heritage and natural science have opened recently in the UAE and Egypt – with more planned next year in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. These serve the people who live in this region but also act as a bridge to the wider world, highlighting the depth of history, thought and culture that exists here. The people of the Middle East have always known the depth of talent in their midst; showcasing their achievements through awards, museums and other efforts inspires the people of the region and beyond.
