The King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language today honored the winners of the second edition of the "Harf" competition for non-native Arabic-speaking students, with 12 winners receiving recognition awards at a ceremony attended by prominent academic and linguistic figures in Riyadh, including the Academy's Secretary-General, Dr. Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Washmi, along with a group of educational institutions and organizations.

The competition aims to elevate the standing of the Arabic language through contests that highlight its appeal and cultural diversity. In his remarks, Dr. Al-Washmi said the "Harf" competition has helped spotlight the challenges facing non-native Arabic-speaking students, and has worked to empower them and develop their language skills, in line with the goals of the Human Capability Development Program under Saudi Vision 2030.

Closing Ceremony and Awards Across Multiple Categories

The closing ceremony was filled with celebration and creativity, with students presenting literary and poetic performances and success stories of the competition's winners shared with attendees. Winners were selected based on precise criteria across four categories: lexical proficiency, language and technology, language and cultural communication, and research papers. More than 1,000 male and female students from over 20 educational institutions, universities and institutes within Saudi Arabia, took part, with 70 participants advancing to the final round.

The top three winners in each category received prizes totaling SR100,000, while other finalists were honored with cash prizes totaling SR22,000.

List of Winners by Category

  • Lexical Proficiency:
    • First place: Simone Fucazzolo (Italy, Qassim University)
    • Second place: Shah Jahan Ansari (India, Taif University)
    • Third place: Abu Ubaidah Osman (Philippines, Northern Border University)
  • Language and Technology:
    • First place: Nur Al-Widad binti Asmi Anwar (Malaysia, King Abdulaziz University)
    • Second place: Khadija Abdul Muttalib Jallow (Mali, Princess Nourah University)
    • Third place: Ahmad Mu Zaki Khoirullah (Indonesia, Qassim University)
  • Language and Cultural Communication:
    • First place: Abdulkadir Mohamed Mirasheikh (Nigeria, Islamic University of Madinah)
    • Second place: Adam Yusuf Amobolaji (Nigeria, Qassim University)
    • Third place: Sunia Yaiyor (Thailand, Princess Nourah University)
  • Research Paper:
    • First place: Junaid Yusuf Abdul Raqib (India, King Saud University)
    • Second place: Asma Abdul Muttalib Jallow (Mali, Princess Nourah University)
    • Third place: Cisse Bengaly (Ivory Coast, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University)

The Accompanying Exhibition and Universities' Role in Supporting Arabic

The accompanying exhibition featured several Saudi universities and institutes, including King Abdulaziz University, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, and King Khalid University, reflecting the collaboration among educational institutions in support of the Academy's mission of teaching and spreading the Arabic language worldwide.

The second edition of the "Harf" competition is part of the Kingdom's efforts to strengthen the Arabic language's global standing, boost cooperation among educational institutions, and support non-native speakers through innovative teaching and writing methods.