King Honors Translation Prize Winners

Arab News

RIYADH, 30 April 2008 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday received and congratulated the winners of King Abdullah International Prize for Translation at his palace in Riyadh.
King Abdullah commended the winners for their efforts in translating Arabic works into different languages and vice versa, saying it would contribute to exchanging knowledge and sciences among people of different cultures.
“It will also bring people of the world closer,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying. King Abdullah called for more efforts in translation of books from Arabic to different world languages.
The winners spoke about their works that qualified them to grab the prestigious award. The prize for institutions went to King Fahd Qur’an Printing Complex in Madinah, which was represented by its Secretary-General Dr. Muhammad Salim Al-Aufi.
The prize for translation from other languages to Arabic (in natural sciences) was shared by Dr. Abdullah Al-Muhaidab, a Saudi and professor of civil engineering at King Saud University, and Egyptian Dr. Ahmed Fouad Basha, professor of physics at Cairo University.
Dr. Abdussalam Shadadi, professor of Islamic history at Muhammad V University in Rabat, Morocco, and Dr. Claudia Maria, professor of Arabic language at Turin University, Italy, shared the prize for translation in humanities from Arabic to other languages.
The prize for translation in humanities from other languages into Arabic went to Egyptian Dr. Saleh Al-Saadawi, a researcher at the Research Center for History, Arts and Islamic Culture in Istanbul.
Earlier, Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Abdullah, adviser to the king and member of the board of directors of King Abdul Aziz Public Library, distributed the prizes to the winners during a ceremony held at the library’s headquarters in Riyadh.
Addressing the ceremony, Prince Abdul Aziz said the prize would contribute to promoting cultural dialogue and strengthening cooperation between Arabic and international cultural, scientific and professional centers that are specialized in translation.
He said Saudi Arabia would host a series of cultural and scientific events, including those relating to translation and dialogue, with other faiths and cultures. He said such events would strengthen the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for cultural and intellectual exchanges.
Faisal bin Muammar, supervisor of the library, said the award would contribute to spreading knowledge and encouraging scholars. He said the king’s initiative for interfaith dialogue would promote tolerance among different nations.