The Sheikh Hamad Translation Award has been a key player in encouraging translation and promoting international understanding for the past decade. Dr. Hanan Al Fayyad, the award’s media adviser, recently delivered a lecture highlighting the achievements of the award since its inception. With 214 winners from 48 countries, the award has made significant contributions to the field of translation. Al Fayyad emphasized the professionalism and transparency of the award committees, which has earned the award high credibility in international cultural circles.
The Sheikh Hamad Translation Award covers a wide range of languages and categories, providing opportunities for translators from diverse backgrounds to showcase their work. The award’s cultural activities include tours to introduce the award in cooperation with translation and publishing institutions in different countries. Al Fayyad also praised the efforts of German and Arab translators who were recognized in the award’s fourth edition for their outstanding work in translation between Arabic and German.
Dr. Imtinan Al Samadi, a member of the media team, discussed the history of translation in the Arab-Islamic civilization and highlighted the importance of reading international works translated into Arabic. Translation plays a crucial role in building bridges of acculturation, spreading awareness, and transferring knowledge between different peoples. In a meeting with Dr. Amani Saifi, an academic at Humboldt University, Dr. Al Fayyad discussed potential cooperation in organizing scientific seminars to discuss the works of prize winners translated from Arabic to German and vice versa.
Qatar launched the Sheikh Hamad Prize for Translation and International Understanding in 2015 to help bridge the gap between Arab countries and the rest of the world in the field of translation. Translation is considered the second source of knowledge after scientific research, making it vital for promoting cross-cultural understanding and knowledge exchange. The award has been a catalyst for encouraging translation and recognizing the efforts of talented translators from around the world, furthering the mission of promoting international understanding through literature and language.