Doha: The Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding, in collaboration with the Qatar Press Center, organized a ceremony to honor its success partners from media and cultural institutions. The event marked the tenth anniversary of the award’s launch in 2015, and was attended by the award’s media team, officials from the Qatar Press Center, as well as representatives from media and cultural institutions, and local press and media outlets.
The official spokesperson and media advisor of the award Professor Dr. Hanan Al-Fayyad, stated during the ceremony that "Today marks a significant milestone in our journey of achievements. Last December, we celebrated honoring the winners of the Award completing a full decade of accomplishments”.
She added that “we reaffirm that our success was never an individual effort, but rather the result of an extended partnership shaped by media institutions that have been our supporting hand”. “These success partners have contributed to making us the top global award in the field of translation."
Al-Fayyad further highlighted the major challenges they faced during this journey, particularly in the field of media work. “Personally, I found myself navigating two demanding tasks: first, fulfilling the vision of the award’s administration to maintain a distinguished and sustainable presence, and second, meeting the expectations of media institutions that seek constant innovation and diversity to serve their platforms and audience interests."
She praised the media institutions for shaping the award with their legitimate requirements, transforming it from merely an awards honoring translators into a platform that embraces translators and intellectuals alike.
Regarding the award’s future, Al-Fayyad stated "We have ambitious plans ahead, but for now, we continue with our usual approach—introducing innovation and diversity in translation between Arabic and various world languages."
A Media Platform for Society
Saad Al-Rumaihi, Chairman of the Board of the Qatar Press Center, pointed out that "When this center was established, it was meant to be the voice of journalists, a platform reflecting the aspirations and needs of society, and a bridge between media institutions and all segments of the community”. Today he said, we stand with great respect for an award that carries a name dear to our hearts-H H the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani”. “Through his journey, he has written shining pages of dedication to his country and the Arab and Islamic nations."
He added that "The Sheikh Hamad Award is one of the pillars of cultural renaissance that Qatar has embraced under the leadership of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. It is an award that transcends borders, bridging knowledge and sciences between languages, fostering a cultural and humanitarian project that enriches minds and brings nations closer together."
Al-Rumaihi praised the award’s media team, highlighting their global reach in engaging with scholars, thinkers, and writers to translate and share their knowledge. He added that translation is about building strong bridges between languages and cultures, ensuring the essence and authenticity of texts are conveyed smoothly and beautifully."
He concluded:
"We need more efforts to emphasize the importance of translation as a medium for transferring knowledge and connecting cultures he emphasized. Foreign sources, especially in global news, are often rich in depth and comprehensiveness. Translators must embrace creativity and precision to provide the Arab reader with a rich cultural experience that matches the depth of the original text."
Meanwhile, Dr. Imtinan Al-Sumadi, a member of the award’s media team, expressed her honor in celebrating a decade of achievements for the Sheikh Hamad Award. She described it as a pioneering initiative that has presented the highest recognition for those who have dedicated themselves to translating and sharing human thought across languages.
She emphasized that "This award carries a name cherished by us all—H H the Father Amir—who believed in the role of translators and sought to honor them both financially and morally, recognizing their significant contributions. Translators are pioneers of knowledge dissemination, builders of bridges between cultures and nations, and messengers of tolerance, love, and peace."
"We have deepened our understanding of Arab civilization and its profound influence on other civilizations” she said adding that “Our culture has contributed significantly to shaping the global intellectual landscape and has introduced the world to the highest Islamic values of tolerance and love."
Dr. Al-Sumadi spoke about the efforts made by the media team saying "We did not limit ourselves to merely publishing news or opening nominations via websites and diplomatic embassies. Instead, we traveled worldwide to meet translators in their own countries, understanding their realities and challenges firsthand."
She noted the extensive outreach the team conducted, traveling from India and Pakistan to Bulgaria, Hungary, and Germany, and from Zanzibar and Nigeria to Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Algeria, Egypt, and beyond.
She stressed the award’s commitment to engaging with universities, institutes, publishers, and translation professionals in their workplaces, believing that a translated word is not just a text, but a humanitarian message carrying the values of civilization from one language to another, from one heart to another.
She also addressed the obstacles faced, including the COVID-19 pandemic, describing how the award overcame geographical restrictions through remote work, strong communication networks, and multimedia platforms, ensuring the translation movement continued across continents.
The event concluded with the presentation of commemorative shields and certificates of appreciation to partners and contributors who played a pivotal role in the award’s success. This recognition honored their exceptional efforts in advancing the award’s mission and reinforcing its status as a global hub for knowledge exchange and cultural connection.
The ceremony served as a testament to gratitude and recognition, celebrating the contributions that elevated the award into an international symbol of translation—where intellect and humanity come together.
