Cooperation Agreement between the Arab Parliament and the Albabtain Foundation to Support the Arabic Language
An Annual Award Named after the Late Abdulaziz Albabtain Worth $100,000
March 15, 2024
As part of consolidating Arab and cultural identity and enhancing the status of the Arabic language as an ancient cultural heritage, Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, President of the Arab Parliament, and Saud Abdulaziz Albabtain, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, signed a cooperation agreement to launch an annual award worth $100,000 to support the Arabic language, named the "Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language."
The agreement was signed at the Albabtain Diwan on Thursday, March 14 (4 Ramadan) after iftar, in the presence of a distinguished gathering of ambassadors, diplomats, academics, writers, intellectuals, and media professionals.
The terms of the agreement stipulate cooperation between the Arab Parliament and the Albabtain Cultural Foundation in various fields within their respective domains. The goal is to encourage all efforts to preserve and protect the Arabic language, elevate its status, and enhance its prominence at the Arab, regional, and international levels.
Believing that preserving and enhancing the status of the Arabic language is a shared responsibility among all entities and institutions, their administrations have agreed on 15 clauses. These include the establishment of an annual award named the "Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language," recognizing it as one of the world's most significant and greatest languages, spoken by nearly half a billion people globally. The award will be granted in various fields, with the Albabtain Foundation’s Board of Trustees selecting a specific field each year, including:
Electronic and digital programs in the service of the Arabic language
Media programs in the service of the Arabic language
Arabic language and language policy planning
Arabic language and social changes
Teaching Arabic to non-native speakers
Arabic lexicography
Editing manuscripts in Arabic language sciences and literature
Aesthetics of the Arabic language
Simplifying Arabic grammar
Developing Arabic language curricula
Improving methods of teaching the Arabic language
The agreement also includes the formation of a Board of Trustees for the award, consisting of representatives from the Arab Parliament and the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, along with five experts specializing in the Arabic language. These experts will be nominated and appointed in coordination between the Parliament and the Foundation.
Following the signing of the agreement, Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, President of the Arab Parliament, stated, "The signing of the agreement between the two entities stems from the Parliament's firm belief that preserving the Arabic language and restoring its global status in the production and dissemination of knowledge is one of the main requirements for achieving comprehensive Arab renaissance. It is also a fundamental pillar for the advancement of Arab societies and the cornerstone for nurturing enlightened, loyal, and capable generations who can contribute continuously to building and giving back to their homeland."
Al-Asoumi expressed his happiness with the signing of the cultural agreement with the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, emphasizing that the collaboration with the Foundation is fruitful given its long-standing dedication to the Arabic language and its cultural impact, which has resonated globally.
He affirmed that the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation is both an Arab and global institution striving to enhance Arab cultural identity, achieve creative and intellectual development, and foster human communication regionally and globally. Foremost among its goals is supporting the Arabic language, making every possible effort to maintain its vitality, prioritize it among its native speakers within the Arab world, and affirm its cultural significance.
On his part, Mr. Saud Abdulaziz Albabtain, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Foundation, stated that "Based on the Foundation's unwavering belief that the Arabic language is a fundamental component of Arab identity, its development is an indicator reflecting the progress and prosperity of the nation, and that nurturing and supporting it contributes to preserving heritage, caring for the present, and paving the way for the future, the Foundation is committed to supporting the Arabic language by promoting its culture and enhancing its learning, recognizing its esteemed position among global languages."
Albabtain further added, "We are enthusiastic about embarking on a cultural journey with the Arab Parliament, aiming to celebrate the Arabic language in a manner that necessitates its preservation and relies on successful means to empower it and reaffirm its presence among its speakers and non-native speakers from other nations. It is also a continuation of the mission of my late father (may his soul rest in peace), who, since the beginning of his cultural work in the 1970s, directed his efforts towards encouraging the teaching of the Arabic language, spreading its culture and literature, facilitating mutual translation between Arabic and other languages, and contributing significantly to the field of Arabic poetry."
The Award’s Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language includes:
Mr. Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi (Kingdom of Bahrain), President of the Arab Parliament
Dr. Taleb bin Hilal Al-Hosni (Sultanate of Oman), Member of the Arab Parliament
Mr. Abdulrahman Khalid Albabtain (State of Kuwait), Secretary-General of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation
Dr. Muhammad Moustafa Abu Shawarib (Arab Republic of Egypt), Deputy Secretary-General of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation
Dr. Salem Khaddad (State of Kuwait)
Dr. Abdulaziz Khawjah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
Dr. Saad Maslouh (Arab Republic of Egypt)
Dr. Faisal Al-Haffian (Syrian Arab Republic)
Dr. Mohamed Mashbal (Kingdom of Morocco)