King Faisal Prize Names 2026 Award Recipients
The King Faisal Prize General Secretariat has announced the laureates for its 48th session, corresponding to 2026 CE, following the conclusion of the Selection Committees’ meetings held from January 5 to 7, 2026. The prestigious awards recognize outstanding contributions in five distinct categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science. This year’s recipients represent a diverse group of scholars and innovators whose work has significantly impacted their respective fields and humanity at large.
In the Service to Islam category, the prize was jointly awarded to Sheikh Abdullatif Ahmed Alfozan of Saudi Arabia and Professor Mohamed Mohamed Aboumousa of Egypt. Sheikh Alfozan was recognized for his distinguished methodology in charitable work, including the establishment of numerous Islamic centers, mosques, and educational endowments, as well as initiatives supporting non-profit sector leadership. Professor Aboumousa, a distinguished professor at Al-Azhar University, was honored for his extensive literary contributions to the Arabic language, particularly in rhetoric clarifying the miraculous nature of the Holy Quran, and his efforts in preserving cultural identity among youth. For Islamic Studies, with the topic “Trade Routes in the Islamic World,” the prize was shared by Professor Moh’d Wahib Hussein of Jordan and Professor Abdelhamid Hussein Hammouda of Egypt. Professor Hammouda’s comprehensive and objective analysis of land and sea trade routes across the Islamic world, and Professor Hussein’s highly scientific and field-based archaeological surveys, provided significant insights into historical trade networks.
The Arabic Language and Literature prize, focusing on “Arabic Literature in French,” was awarded to Professor Pierre Patrice Marcel Larcher of France, a professor at Aix-Marseille University. His innovative presentation of Arabic literature to French readers, high-level scientific methodology in studying ancient Arabic poetry, and critical project involving French translations of the Mu’allaqat were key factors in his selection. The Medicine prize, for “Discoveries Transforming Obesity Therapeutics,” was bestowed upon Professor Svetlana Mojsov of the United States, a professor at Rockefeller University. Her pioneering work in discovering the biologically active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its role as a potent insulin secretagogue has revolutionized obesity and diabetes treatments, benefiting millions globally. Finally, the Science prize, with the topic “Mathematics,” was awarded to Professor Carlos Kenig of the United States, a professor at the University of Chicago. Professor Kenig was recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to mathematical analysis, which have profoundly transformed the understanding of nonlinear partial differential equations and provided researchers with widely used mathematical techniques with applications in fluid mechanics, optical fibers, and medical imaging.
