The Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) announced, on 27 November 2025, the final results of the 2025 edition of the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research and the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education. A total of 116 educational research papers from 13 Arab countries and 77 digital innovations from 11 countries competed, resulting in two winning papers in the “Educational Research” category and three winning innovations in the “Digital Innovations” category.
This edition highlighted the diversity and quality of the Arab participations. It attracted research papers from most Arab countries alongside digital innovations reflecting new trends in technology-based education development.
The 2025 Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research witnessed a wide participation, with 116 research papers from 13 Arab countries, reflecting diverse research interests in the region. Saudi Arabia topped the list with 41 submissions, followed by Egypt with 16, Palestine with 13, and the UAE with 10. Qatar submitted 9 papers, Jordan 7, while Syria, Oman, and Iraq contributed 5 each. Kuwait submitted two papers, and Sudan, Bahrain, and Yemen submitted one paper each.
In his remarks on this occasion, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar, Director-General of ALECSO, said: “The announcement of the winners of the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Distinguished Educational Research represents a significant scientific milestone reflecting the important role of the Award in supporting Arab educational research and enhancing the quality of knowledge production in this vital field.” He affirmed that the Award, “with its rigorous standards and forward-looking vision, has helped strengthen a culture of scientific research and encouraged researchers to present innovative studies capable of contributing to the development of educational policies and the improvement of educational practices across the Arab world”.
“The solid partnership between ALECSO and the Hamdan Foundation,” he added, “embodies a shared commitment to supporting educational research and directing it toward priority issues in Arab educational systems, thereby enhancing the human capital and improving the quality of education. We congratulate the winners on this well-deserved scientific achievement, and reaffirm our continued cooperation with the Foundation to deepen the impact of the Award, expand the circle of benefiting researchers, and foster an Arab research environment that keeps pace with global changes and contributes to shaping a more innovative and effective education in the future.”
Commenting on the results of the Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education, the Director-General said: “Launching this Award was a strategic step and a significant turning point in the development of education in the Arab world. The Award strengthens the trend toward supporting innovative digital solutions and embracing modern technologies such as AI, Augmented Reality, and Data Analytics in improving teaching and learning processes. This Award helps reinforce digital transformation in Arab educational systems, and empowers teachers, students, and researchers to develop initiatives capable of building more efficient and sustainable educational environments that keep pace with global transformations.”
The 2025 Hamdan–ALECSO Award for Digital Innovations in Education attracted 77 innovations from 11 Arab countries, reflecting the diversity of digital initiatives and the growing adoption of modern technologies for the development of education. Algeria ranked first with 21 innovations, followed by the UAE with 16, then Palestine with 10. Saudi Arabia submitted 7 innovations, Iraq 6, Jordan 5, Kuwait and Morocco 4 each, Syria 2, and Oman and Qatar submitted one innovation each.
“The Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Medical and Educational Sciences and ALECSO affirm their continued commitment to supporting the advancement of educational research and promoting a culture of digital innovation in education. This is achieved through pioneering programs and awards designed to empower Arab researchers and innovators, and provide knowledge platforms that stimulate high-quality scientific output.
The Foundation and ALECSO will pursue their joint efforts to expand the impact of these Awards, strengthen their role in developing educational systems, build the capacities of future generations, and support Arab countries in their pursuit for more efficient and sustainable education.
