A professor born into a Palestinian refugee family who on Thursday collected a Great Arab Minds award from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, told The National that "any refugee can change the world" in a rallying cry for more young people to pursue science.
Professor Omar Yaghi described how his family had to live without water or electricity, and survived without a lot of money, yet always focused on education because it has the "power to transform lives". Having won in the natural sciences category, he said he was "captivated by the beauty of molecules" from the age of 10.
"My advice to ambitious young people is that science doesn’t care about your background, financial status, or social circumstances," he told The National. "It values only the effort you put into acquiring knowledge and experimenting. Perseverance and long-term vision are essential because scientific research is not a fleeting event but a lifelong journey. Science teaches objectivity, the power of experimentation, and the strength of following your passion to develop yourself. A discovery made by a refugee in any corner of the world can change the entire world – this is the essence of science's power."
Prof Yaghi was one of six of the region’s leading intellectuals who were honoured for their contributions to the fields of engineering, the arts, natural sciences, medicine, architecture and economics, in a ceremony at Dubai’s Museum of the Future.
Professor Oussama Khatib was recognised for his contributions to engineering and technology, Dia Al Azzawi for his impact on literature and the arts, Professor Yaghi for his work in natural sciences, Professor Yasmine Belkaid for her advancements in medicine, Sahel Al Hiyari for his achievements in architecture and design, and Professor Yacine Ait-Sahalia for his contributions to economics.
Arab geniuses
"Today we honoured the 'Arab Geniuses' at the Museum of the Future," Sheikh Mohammed wrote in a post on X. "We are proud of them and the pioneering contributions they have made to science, literature, culture, economics, medicine, arts, urban planning, and the global knowledge society."
Prof Khatib, who lives and works away from his native Syria, said his "heart is always there" and that "homeland never leaves the heart". "This award holds a special place in my heart because it comes from my homeland, the greater Arab world," he added.
The winner in the engineering category described robotics as an "incredibly significant field because it integrates various technical disciplines, including mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science".
"I often see high school students visiting us, and then returning years later as university students to thank us for introducing them to the field of robotics," he said. "The technological advancements today enable us to achieve things we never imagined before. I strongly believe that the Arab world is full of young people and researchers eager for the opportunities I was fortunate to have."
Iraq's Dia Al Azzawi, who won in the arts category, told The National of the sense of pride he felt in being presented with the award. “This initiative to honour fine arts is a bold and exceptional move in the Arab world," he said.
"It acknowledges a vital component of the development process in our Arab societies. This award transcends my personal achievement. It extends to my homeland, Iraq, rich in history, creativity, and its vast family both within the region and beyond. It also honours friends, including Palestinian artists dispersed across the globe."
What is the Great Arab Minds award?
Sheikh Mohammed launched the Great Arab Minds Award in January 2022, allocating Dh100 million ($27.2 million) to fund the initiative.
The award aims to “celebrate scientists, thinkers and innovators every year”. The winners’ contributions span various fields including medicine, natural sciences, economics, engineering, architecture, and the arts.
Speaking on Thursday, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said: "Some may think that the idea of reviving civilisation, as called for by Sheikh Mohammed, is far-fetched, or that restarting civilisation is a distant hope that would require centuries. But today, we are here to say that changing the reality of a nation is much closer than we think, if we truly believe in it. History has proven that nations that embrace science and culture can rise again, and living nations never despair. We are a living nation.
"There are approximately 450 million people in the Arab world, most of them under 25 years of age," he added. "These young individuals hold dreams, ideas, ambitions, energy, and abilities. They are waiting for someone to believe in them and empower them."
Nominations undergo extensive evaluation based on comprehensive criteria, including the achievement itself, evidenced results, certificates, patents, publications, books, research, and projects. The judging panels include ministers, officials, experts and specialists from around the world.
The Museum of the Future was a poignant venue as it houses a permanent research and knowledge centre, inaugurated in January 2024, to support the mission of Great Arab Minds.
Who are the six winners?
Professor Oussama Khatib
Prof Khatib, from Syria, is known for his research into robotic systems. His work has enabled robots to operate in a wide range of sectors and environments, including healthcare and deep-sea exploration.
With more than 327 research studies, Prof Khatib's work is said to bridge theoretical innovation with practical applications, transforming the robotics landscape globally. He is perhaps best known for his OceanOne robot, that replicates human skill in deep-sea exploration.
Dia Al Azzawi
Dia Al Azzawi, from Iraq, is a painter who has been a major figure in Arab art for decades. His works, which range across a variety of mediums, often reflect regional culture and history, while touching on contemporary issues.
Living and working in London, he is considered one of the pioneers of modern Arab art and is noted for incorporating Arabic script into his paintings.
Professor Omar Yaghi
Prof Omar Yaghi, born into a Palestinian refugee family, specialises in chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley.
His work focuses on the structure and properties of inorganic and organic compounds and is known for pioneering classes of new materials. Prof Yaghi is also an elected member of the US National Academy of Sciences, as well as the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
Professor Yasmine Belkaid
Prof Belkaid, from Algeria, is an immunologist and president of the Pasteur Institute, a French non-profit dedicated to the study of biology, microorganisms, diseases and vaccines. She also serves as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Microbiome programme in the US.
She is best known for her work studying host-microbe interactions in tissues and immune regulation to microbes.
Professor Sahel Al Hiyari
Prof Al Hiyari from Jordan is an architect who creates designs that mix modernity with tradition and nature.
His projects are sustainability focused, using local materials and techniques, and aim to preserve both the natural environment around them and the cultural identity in which they are located.
Prof Al Hiyari has taught at the American University of Beirut, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Harvard University, and Columbia University.
Professor Yacine Ait Sahalia
Prof Ait Sahalia, from Algeria, specialises in economics at Princeton University. He is perhaps best known as the inaugural director of the Bendheim Centre for Finance at Princeton from 1998 until 2014.
His primary areas of research are financial econometrics and mathematical statistics. He has received praise for advancing estimation modelling in empirical finance.
