The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the shortlist for the fifth edition of its 2025 Research Grants Programme.

The shortlist includes 11 works from eight Arab countries, selected by a panel of judges based on qualitative criteria and divided into four fields: Literature and Criticism, Applied and Computational Linguistics, Arabic Lexicon, and Manuscript Editing.

The Programme was highly competitive due to the large number of participants involved in and the high standard of the research proposals. This year, the number of applicants reached 516, from over 36 Arab and non-Arab countries, reflecting an increase of 91% compared to 270 candidates last year.

Additionally, there was a 16% increase in the geographical spread of the Programme compared to the previous year, totalling 36 countries. This underscores the growing reputation of the Research Grant Programme within Arab and global academic circles, its pioneering role in promoting the Arabic language and enhancing its regional and international presence, and its support for the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre's strategy, which focuses on fostering creativity, authorship and scientific research across various fields and disciplines.

The shortlist includes three studies in the field of Literature and Criticism: "The Arab Discovery of Japan from the Russo-Japanese War until World War II" by Reem Ahmed (Egypt); "Classes of Arabic Poetry from a Cultural Perspective" by Dr Abdul Fattah Shahid (Morocco); and "Dreams, Prisons, and the Dark Room" by Lina Jammal (Lebanon). Additionally, the shortlist included one study in the field of Applied and Computational Linguistics titled "Using Digital Games in Teaching Arabic and Acquiring Linguistic Skills through Gamification" by Mohammed Ibrahim Al Jayousi (Jordan).

The panel of judges selected three studies in the field of Arabic Lexicon: "Bakhit Dictionary of Collocations Arabic-English" by Ramadan Mohammed Bakhit (Egypt); "The Arabic Treasure Dictionary in the French Language from the Middle Ages to the Present Day" by Shaker Nouri (Iraq); and "A Postmodern Narrative Dictionary" by Ahmed Khreis (Palestine).

In the field of Manuscript Editing, four research papers have been shortlisted: "The Celestial Star in the French Conquest" (Al-Najm al-Samāwī fi al-Fat'h al-Fransāwī) edited by Shahrazad Al Arabi (Algeria); "Al-Ma'ānī al-Kabīr fi Abyāt al-Ma'ānī" (by Abu Muhammad; Abdullah Ibn Muslim Ibn Qutaybah al-Dinawari) (213-276 H), edited by Ibrahim Bin Mohammed bin Hamad Al Batshan (Saudi Arabia); "Sīrat al-Malik al-Badrnār Ibn al-Nahrwān: An Arab Popular Narrative About the Arab-Mongol Conflic" (A verified Edition based on its sources at the German Goethe Library), edited by Dr Intisar Abdelaziz Munir (Egypt); and a new edition of "One Hundred and One Nights" edited by Haitham Mahmoud Sharqawi (Egypt).

The Programme aims to enhance research and studies, build a strong Arabic research foundation, and support the development of Arabic research and studies alongside stories, novels, and genres. Six to eight annual grants are offered in six fields, with winners receiving a total grant of AED 600,000 to support the development of their work. The Programme also provides added value through its reputation and credibility within the international research community.

Since its launch in 2021, the Programme has awarded 28 grants across various fields. It is a key component of the ALC's strategic plan, serving as both an incentive and inspiration for researchers in the field of Arabic language.

The Programme also aims to support Emirati and Arab researchers, as well as Arabic speakers, in conducting research that advances the Arabic language and promotes its presence both locally and internationally as a language of science, culture, and creativity. Additionally, the Programme highlights the Centre's commitment to advancing scientific research in the Arabic language and reinforces Abu Dhabi’s cultural standing and its leading role in supporting and enhancing the presence of the Arabic language.