Nominations open for 2028 King Faisal Prize

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Nominations are now open for the 50th King Faisal Prize, accepting submissions until March 2027 across five categories including Islamic Studies, Arabic Literature, Medicine, Science, and Service to Islam. The 2028 awards will focus on themes such as Muslim Heritage in Al-Andalus and RNA-Based Therapies, highlighting advances that impact both the Muslim world and global scholarship.

Nominations have opened for the 50th edition of the King Faisal Prize, with submissions accepted until the end of March 2027. The prize, established by the King Faisal Foundation in 1977 and first awarded in 1979, recognizes outstanding contributions in five categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science.

Abdulaziz Al-Sebail, secretary-general of the King Faisal Prize, outlined the thematic focus for each category in 2028. The Islamic Studies category will concentrate on "Muslim Heritage in Al-Andalus," while Arabic Language and Literature will explore "Arabic Literature from the Perspective of Comparative Studies." Medicine will highlight advancements in "RNA-Based Therapies," and the Science category will center on topics within the "Life Sciences." The Service to Islam prize honors individuals and institutions that have made pioneering intellectual, scientific, or social contributions benefiting Islam and Muslim communities.

Nominations can be submitted by universities, organizations, institutions, and scientific research centers or through the prize’s online portal. Interested parties are encouraged to send their submissions via email at nominations@kingfaisalprize.org or through the official website.

Since its inception, the King Faisal Prize has recognized 308 laureates from 45 countries for significant achievements in science, scholarship, and humanitarian efforts. Initially, the prize covered only Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Language and Literature, with the Medicine and Science categories added in 1999. Each recipient receives a cash award of $200,000, a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a commemorative certificate.

The current nomination cycle opened on September 1, 2026, and is set to close at the end of March 2027. The prize continues to serve as a prominent platform to acknowledge outstanding contributions that advance knowledge and service within the Muslim world and beyond.

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