H E Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani with winners during the honouring ceremony.
Doha, Qatar: On behalf of Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, H E Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani attended the honouring ceremony for the winners of the 11th Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding. The official event was held in Doha yesterday.
The ceremony was attended by a number of esteemed sheikhs, ministers, members of diplomatic missions accredited to the State, as well as distinguished guests including writers, translators, and researchers.
At the beginning of the event, an introductory film was screened, highlighting the key milestones of this year’s edition. It showcased the activities and events held throughout the cycle, including field tours to several countries such as Germany and the Balkan states (Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia).
These tours reflected the Award’s commitment to expanding cultural communication, promoting dialogue between the Arabic language and world languages, strengthening ties with academic and cultural institutions, and exploring future cooperation in translation, Arabic language education, and the preservation of shared human and Islamic heritage.
In his impactful speech, Dr. Hassan Al-Naama, Secretary-General of the Award, expressed the prestigious status the Award holds in the journey of human culture. He described it as a bridge connecting peoples, and a beacon that illuminates the paths of literature, science, and art, drawing inspiration from the legacy of ancestors who built the foundations of civilization and left their mark on history through their intellectual and scholarly contributions.
Dr. Al-Naama also extended heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the writers and scholars whose knowledge and translations enriched this major cultural project. He praised the dedication of those working behind the scenes to uphold the Award’s excellence year after year, ensuring it remains a symbol of enlightened thought, a gift that brings inspiration and joy to the world, and a contributor to the beauty and sophistication of the human landscape.
The translators’ speech, delivered by Larissa Bender, a German translator specialised in Arabic literature, emphasised that translation is a cultural and humanitarian act that builds bridges of understanding among nations, even though it is often carried out in silence and behind the scenes.
She spoke candidly about the declining moral and financial recognition faced by translators, citing the situation of Arabic-to-German translation and the lukewarm interest from publishers and media in Germany, factors that limit the spread of Arabic literature and reduce opportunities for deeper understanding of the region’s experiences.
She also highlighted the existential challenges posed by machine translation and artificial intelligence, stressing the need to preserve the value of human translation. The 11th edition of the Award witnessed a significant development with the inclusion of three widely spoken languages for the first time: English, German, and Turkish, alongside two less widespread languages: Albanian and Thai.
