Post by : Badri Ariffin

At the 2026 Qatar Foundation Excellence Awards, several Qatari recipients expressed that being honored by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser inspires them to further their contributions to Qatar’s development goals.

During the ceremony, awardees shared with Qatar News Agency that this acknowledgment underscores the foundation’s enduring commitment to nurturing talent, innovation, and future leadership.

This year, over 120 candidates submitted entries for this esteemed award, with a committee of Qatar Foundation partner universities selecting 16 remarkable graduates, including eight from Qatar, based on their academic performance, leadership qualities, and contributions in diverse sectors such as technology, AI, sustainability, healthcare, law, and the arts.

The winners commended Qatar Foundation’s educational environment for molding their ambitions and aiding their academic and career paths. Many voiced their dedication to community service, innovation, and research within Qatar.

Among the honorees, Sheikha Noura Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who holds a PhD in Law from Hamad Bin Khalifa University, noted that the accolade bolsters her commitment to leveraging legal expertise for societal benefit.

Khalid Al Abdullah, a Biological Sciences graduate from Carnegie Mellon University Qatar, expressed his aspiration to focus on oncology to enhance cancer research and treatment initiatives in Qatar.

Mashael Mohammed Al Sulaiti, an Executive MBA graduate from HEC Paris Qatar, highlighted the essential role of discipline and clear objectives in attaining success.

Khawla Zaki Al Essa from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts Qatar underlined art’s potential to foster positive societal impacts.

Lolwa Mohammed Al Misnad from Northwestern University in Qatar discussed the significance of teamwork and collaboration in instigating substantial change.

Ali Ibrahim Al Emadi, who completed a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University at Qatar, noted that the foundation’s supportive learning atmosphere inspires him to pursue doctoral research aimed at integrating industrial applications with academic advancements.

Officials from Qatar Foundation lauded the graduates for their interdisciplinary efforts, underpinned by strong ethical principles. They also revealed that nearly 30% of awardees have already initiated innovative startups that merge fields like healthcare, computing, education, and design.

The event further recognized graduates from a multitude of disciplines within Qatar Foundation’s partner universities.

#world news #Global News #Qatar News #Qatar