NIZWA: The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth announced the winners of the third edition of the Sohar award for research and criticism during a ceremony held at the Nizwa Cultural Centre on Monday.
The awards were presented by Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture.
Dr Habib bin Marhoon al Hadi won first place for his study titled “The Biography of Ibn Madad: A Critical Study”. Dr Muhyiddin al Nadi Abd Abu al Izz came second with his research “Circling the Eritrean Sea is a source of ancient Omani history". The third place went to Salim bin Ahmed al Kathiri for his study entitled “Constructing Foreign Knowledge about Oman: The Reports of the Ship Palliners, a British Source for the Study of the Dhofar Region".
The Sohar award was launched in 2021 with the blessing of HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth. It is the first of its kind in the Arab world dedicated to research and critical studies. It aims to create an inspiring environment for creativity and to enhance Oman’s cultural leadership locally and internationally.
Abdullah bin Mohammed al Harthy, Director-General of Knowledge and Cultural Development at the Ministry, said, "The award reflects the ministry’s strategic vision to support scientific and cultural research, empowering researchers and enriching knowledge in alignment with Oman Vision 2040."
"This year’s edition focused on critical readings of sources related to Omani history. Submissions were evaluated by a panel of prominent academics in history and literary criticism, following rigorous international standards to ensure quality and fairness," he added.
“The Sohar award has strengthened the presence of Omani literature and culture regionally and globally,” Al Harthy said.
The award continues to receive increasing attention and participation from researchers and scholars across the Arab world, reflecting its growing reputation and contribution to enriching Arab and Omani cultural studies.
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