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(Manama, 26th of October 2026) The Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Award held a press conference at the Gulf Hotel, attended by members of its Board of Trustees, university presidents in Bahrain, founders of art centers, and media representatives. Divided into three short sessions, the conference announced three competitions, outlining their entry requirements and cash prizes.
Mr Nabeel Kanoo, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, stressed that the Award’s true value lies in the ideas it brings forward and the opportunities it creates for talented individuals to help address issues facing their communities. He noted that the three competitions bring together scientific research, student innovation, and artistic expression, reflecting the Award’s commitment to supporting people and developing their capabilities across various fields. He added that the Kanoo family takes pride in continuing this mission and looks forward to the new edition producing outstanding work that enriches knowledge and offers practical solutions. He also expressed his appreciation to all partners who help broaden the Award’s reach and strengthen its impact.
During the first session, Dr Waleed Zubari, a member of the Award’s Board of Trustees, announced details of the main competition, titled “Innovative Commercial Solutions for Food Security in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries.” Open to researchers and academics from all Arab countries, the competition requires a research paper of 10,000 words and carries a cash prize of US$30,000.
The competition explores ways to transform ideas and innovations in food security into commercially viable solutions that improve food production efficiency and support sustainable food supplies across the GCC. It also invites research into the use of modern technologies and the development of business models to address water scarcity, limited agricultural land, and dependence on imports.
During the second session, Dr Mansoor Al Aali, a member of the Award’s Board of Trustees, presented the university scientific competition, which offers total cash prizes of US$22,000. He explained that the competition aims to encourage university students to develop engineering and technological innovations that address existing gaps or provide practical solutions to challenges facing society and various sectors.
The competition gives students an opportunity to turn their academic knowledge into innovative applications and projects, beginning with identifying a real need or a problem requiring attention and progressing towards solutions that can be implemented and further developed. Al Aali urged universities in Bahrain to encourage their students to participate and support their ideas, helping them strengthen their research, design, and experimentation skills while connecting scientific knowledge with community needs.
In the third session, Dr Abdulla Yateem, a member of the Award’s Board of Trustees, introduced the fine arts competition, titled “The Teacher,” which also offers total cash prizes of US$22,000. He explained that the competition welcomes various forms of artistic expression, including painting, sculpture, photography, video art, and graphics.
The competition invites artists to explore the teacher’s standing and lasting influence on personal development, awareness, and character, reflecting the mark teachers leave on individuals and society. It also encourages artistic perspectives that go beyond conventional portrayals of teachers to examine their role in inspiring and guiding others, instilling values, and opening new horizons of knowledge for future generations.
In setting the submission deadlines, the organisers sought to give participants sufficient preparation time according to the requirements of each competition. The final submission deadline is the 1st of July 2027 for the main competition, the 15th of June 2027 for the university scientific competition, and the 1st of June 2027 for the fine arts competition. Those wishing to enter any of the three competitions are invited to register their details on the Award’s website.
The Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Award was formally established in 1998 to honour the memory of the late Haji Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo and joined the Arab Awards Forum in 2025. An endowment of US$6 million was allocated to the Award, which has recognised more than seventy winners from Bahrain and other Arab countries since its establishment.
