King Faisal Prize to Honor 2025 Laureates on April 14 in Riyadh Under the Patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the King Faisal Prize award ceremony will be held on April 14, 2025, in Riyadh to honor six distinguished laureates whose contributions have significantly advanced their fields and enriched humanity. Scholars and experts in Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Medicine, and Science will gather in Riyadh to celebrate excellence, knowledge, and service.
This years’ Service to Islam Prize is awarded jointly to two laureates from Saudi Arabia. The Tebyan Quran Project by Liajlehum Association for Serving People with Disabilities is recognized for developing the world’s first complete Qur’anic interpretation in sign language, making the sacred text accessible to the deaf community and promoting inclusivity in Islamic education.
The second laureate; Mr. Sami Abdullah Almaqlouth, is honored for his outstanding efforts in mapping and preserving Islamic historical sites through his work at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information. His documentation supports cultural preservation and public awareness of Islamic heritage.
The Islamic Studies Prize, awarded in the topic of Studies of Archaeology in the Arabian Peninsula, is also shared between two scholars. Professor Saad Abdulaziz Alrashid, a leading Saudi archaeologist, is recognized for his foundational contributions to the study of Islamic inscriptions and archaeological heritage in the Arabian Peninsula.
His work laid the groundwork for a new generation of scholars and brought international attention to the region’s historical richness. Professor Said Faiz Alsaid, another prominent Saudi figure in the field, is honored for his comparative studies of Arabian epigraphy and his contributions to decoding the ancient civilizations of the Peninsula, bridging pre-Islamic history with Islamic archaeology.
This year, the Arabic Language and Literature Prize on the topic of Studies of Identity in Arabic Literature was withheld, as the works nominated did not meet the strict standards of the selection committee.
The Medicine Prize, awarded in the topic of Cellular Therapy, goes to Professor Michel Sadelain, Director of the Center for Cell Engineering at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Professor Sadelain is recognized for his pioneering work in CAR-T cell therapy, a breakthrough cancer treatment that involves genetically modifying immune cells to target and destroy tumors.
His research has opened new possibilities in treating leukemia and other previously incurable diseases, marking a milestone in medical innovation.
The Science Prize, focusing on Physics this year, is awarded to Professor Sumio Iijima of Japan. Known as the father of carbon nanotubes, Professor Iijima’s 1991 discovery of these cylindrical nanostructures revolutionized the field of nanotechnology.
Carbon nanotubes are now used in cutting-edge applications across electronics, materials science, energy storage, and even biomedicine. His discovery laid the foundation for countless technological innovations in the 21st century.
