News and Events

• The grand prize of $30,000 is allocated for economic research
• Artists and University Students are the Target Groups and Valuable Cash Prizes Await Them

Under the patronage of Mr. Nabeel Khalid Kanoo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kanoo Investment Projects Company, The Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Award organized a press conference at the Gulf Hotel to announce the launch of its competitions for the 12th edition, which was attended by members of the Kanoo family, heads of universities in Bahrain, founders of art centers and galleries, and media representatives. During the conference, which was divided into three mini-sessions, three competitions and their cash prizes were announced. 

Mr. Nabeel Kanoo said that the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Award, which was established more than 25 years ago, is a confirmation of the Kanoo family’s keenness to contribute effectively to various areas of social responsibility by investing in projects that serve the interests of Gulf and Arab societies. He praised the award’s distinguished regional presence and its ability to encourage researchers as well as artists to work and strive. He also thanked all official and private entities for their cooperation with the award to achieve its goals.

The first session was addressed by Mr. Talal Fawzi Kanoo, Dr. Nadhem Saleh Al Saleh, and Dr. Hassan Ibrahim Kamal, members of the Board of Trustees of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Award, who announced the details of the main competition, which is titled (Emerging Technologies and their Applications in Finance, Economics and Business in Arab Countries). It is scientific research competition that combines economics and technology and consists of 10,000 words. Researchers and academics from all Arab countries are allowed to participate in the main competition, and the value of its cash prize is $30,000. At the end of the first session, the speakers thanked the Bahrain Economists Association, represented by its President, Dr. Omar Al-Obaidli for his valuable insights and cooperation with the competition.

In the second session, which was dedicated to the Universities competition, with a total cash prize of $22,000, Dr. Diana Abdul Karim Al-Jahromi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Higher Education, and Dr. Walid Khalil Zubari, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Award, spoke, in the presence of Mr. Talal Fawzi Kanoo. Dr. Diana Al-Jahromi talked about the coordination between the award and the Supreme Council for Higher Education and urged universities in Bahrain to encourage their students to participate in it, as the participation has many benefits, most notably motivating students to compete in scientific fields and to utilize modern technology to find solutions to challenges in society. Dr. Walid Zubari, the supervisor of the competition, which is titled (Emerging Technologies in Finance and Business - Phone and Computer Applications), explained that this time the university scientific competition is looking for practical applications that can be used in the business and banking sector, calling on all universities to benefit from the experience of participation. 

Dr. Walid Zubari also thanked a group of experts and specialists in the field of technology who contributed to the design of the competition, namely Dr. Osama Al Ali, Consultant in Artificial Intelligence and Strategic Planning, Dr. Jassim Haji, Chairman of the Global Artificial Intelligence Group, and Dr. Abdullah Al Abbasi, Director of the Energy and Research Program at the (Derasat) Center. 

In the third session, Dr. Abdullah Abdulrahman Yateem, Member of the Board of Trustees of the Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Award, spoke, in the presence of Dr. Waleed Zubari and Mr. Talal Fawzi Kanoo about the Fine Arts Competition, which is titled (Cultural Identity of Urbanism in the Kingdom of Bahrain: A Visual Testimony), and comes in line with the royal directives to develop an action plan concerned with preserving the historical and cultural identity of Bahrain’s buildings and cities. He mentioned that participation in this competition is open to all Bahraini artists of all ages. He also explained that all types of fine arts are welcomed, including drawing, sculpture, photography, video, and graphics. The total prizes for the Fine Arts Competition are also $22,000. Dr. Yateem thanked His Excellency Sheikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the National Council for Arts, for his great cooperation with the award, specifically in the field of Fine Arts. 

The submission dates for the three competitions differ, as the award organizers decided to give sufficient time to participants to prepare. The acceptance of final entries in the main competition is set for July 15, 2024, the university scientific competition on July 1, 2024, and the Fine Arts Competition on June 5, 2024. Anyone who wishes to participate in one of the three competitions is requested to register on the award’s website. 

It is worth noting that the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Award was officially established in 1998 based on the wishes of the late Ahmed Ali Kanoo, former Chairman of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, in honor of the memory of Haji Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo. An amount of $6 million has been allocated as an endowment for the award, which was won by 50 winners from Bahrain and various Arab countries since its establishment. The Board of Trustees of the Yusuf Bin Ahmed Kanoo Award is currently headed by Mr. Khalid Mohamed Kanoo, who played a major role in expanding the scope of the award and diversifying its competition areas.