The procedural session of the founding council of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language was held in Cairo. The award was established through collaboration between the Arab Parliament and the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation. The session was chaired by the eldest member of the present Board of Trustees, Dr. Abdulaziz Muhyiddin Khawjah, former Minister of Culture of Saudi Arabia, to accomplish the following:

Firstly, reviewing the memorandum of understanding between the Arab Parliament and the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation for launching the award.

Secondly, electing a president of the Board of Trustees from among the council members for a four-year term.

Thirdly, approving the nomination of the secretary-general of the Award's Board of Trustees by the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation.

During the meeting, by unanimous decision, Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, the President of the Arab Parliament, was elected as the President of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language.

Additionally, the Board of Trustees of the award endorsed the selection of Abdulrahman Khalid Albabtain as the Secretary-General of the award.

Following these decisions, the Board of Trustees held its inaugural meeting chaired by Adel Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi, the President of the Board of Trustees.

"Saud Abdulaziz Albabtain appointed as Honorary President of the Award."

The meeting commenced with Adel Al-Asoumi proposing the selection of Mr. Saud Abdulaziz Albabtain as the Honorary President of the Board of Trustees of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Award for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language.

The Board of Trustees then began discussing the agenda for the first meeting, which included the following items:

Firstly, the selection of the award category for the individual and personality branch was unanimously determined to be "Digital and Electronic Programs in Service of the Arabic Language."

In the same item, the award category for institutions and entities was selected as "Arabic Language and Language Policy Planning."

Additionally, it was proposed to adjust the award amounts to $60,000 for institutions and $40,000 for individuals.

Secondly, an agreement was reached on the general principles and criteria for candidacy for the award.

Thirdly, an agreement was established on the working mechanism for the judging committee formed by the council.

Two committees were to be formed:

1.    A committee for the general principles of the Board of Trustees' work and formulations, consisting of the following members: Dr. Saad Maslouh (Arab Republic of Egypt), Dr. Faisal Al-Hifian (Syrian Arab Republic), and Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Abu Shawarib (Arab Republic of Egypt), Deputy Secretary-General of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation.

2.    Committees for award judging, composed of the following members: Dr. Salem Khaddada (Kuwait), Dr. Abdulaziz Muhieddin Khawjah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Dr. Saad Maslouh (Arab Republic of Egypt), Dr. Faisal Al-Hifian (Syrian Arab Republic), Dr. Mohammed Mashbal (Kingdom of Morocco), and Dr. Mohammed Mustafa Abu Shawarib, Deputy Secretary-General of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation.

"The next October is set for the Abdulaziz Albabtain Awards ceremony for Creativity in the Service of the Arabic Language."

Fourthly, the timing and announcement of the award were specified as follows:

Members of the council, led by Al-Asoumi, agreed that the announcement of the awards and their terms would occur before May 15, 2024, with a four-month nomination period.

The announcement of the winners of the awards will be made in September 2024, with the distribution of the awards scheduled for October 2024.

Mr. Adel Al-Asoumi, President of the Arab Parliament, emphasized that the award aims to celebrate the Arabic language in a manner that underscores the necessity of preserving it and relying on successful means to empower it, reaffirming its presence among its speakers and those of other nations.

He further noted the fruitful collaboration between the Arab Parliament and the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, citing the Foundation's deep-rooted commitment to Arabic language and its significant cultural impact globally.