The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) launches a major cultural and scientific award bearing its name and reflecting its esteemed status and lofty mission in defending the values of pluralism, dialogue, and human harmony, based on the ancient history of the city of Alexandria and its library, which extends its roots to the Graeco-Roman era, in which the Bibliotheca Alexandrina was not just a library, but rather a university and a guiding beacon for scholars in its time. From this standpoint, the announcement of the “Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award” comes as an expression of the continuation of the BA’s enlightening mission and its direct contribution in supporting creativity and innovation, especially in the themes that achieve well-being and happiness for humanity.

It is worth mentioning that the Arab cultural and intellectual life is currently crowded with numerous awards competing in their monetary value and literary and intellectual impact. “The Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award” will be added to these awards—not for its financial value, but for its symbolic significance, which it derives from its great history and prestigious present. It will be an Award for creators from all over the world.

1. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award is granted to an outstanding individual in the fields of either fundamental or applied sciences on the one hand or literature, arts, social sciences, or humanities on the other hand, who has made a distinguished scientific contribution to the service of humanity.

2. The award may also be granted to an institution that has made an exceptional contribution in the award’s theme.

3. The award is given in a single field each year. The Higher Committee of the Award determines and announces the theme of the Award annually.