Dubai: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated Professor Abbas El Gamal on receiving the Great Arab Minds 2025 award in the Engineering and Technology category. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the significance of Arab innovators in advancing engineering and technology, which strengthens regional development and contributes to global scientific progress.
According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Mohammed remarked on the Great Arab Minds initiative's annual tradition of honoring Arab researchers and innovators. This year, after receiving numerous nominations, the award in the Engineering and Technology category was bestowed upon Professor El Gamal from Egypt, who serves as the Hitachi America Professor in the School of Engineering at Stanford University. Professor El Gamal has made pioneering contributions to network information theory, forming the backbone of many modern digital networks globally.
Professor El Gamal's work includes developing Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) and CMOS image sensors, foundational technologies in numerous smartphones. His extensive research, including over 230 scientific publications and the influential book "Network Information Theory," serves as a global reference for engineering and technology students. His research benefits leading global tech companies.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the recognition of Professor El Gamal is a testament to the capabilities of Arab minds in creating and shaping scientific futures. The Great Arab Minds initiative, launched by Sheikh Mohammed, honors outstanding Arab achievements across various fields, including Engineering and Technology, Medicine, Economics, Natural Sciences, Literature and Arts, and Architecture and Design.
Professor El Gamal was acknowledged for his foundational contributions to network information theory, which have transformed digital communications by establishing the mathematical limits of communication networks. His work has influenced modern communication protocols worldwide and played a crucial role in advancing FPGAs and CMOS image sensors, essential technologies for modern electronic applications.
Professor El Gamal, originally from Egypt, completed his bachelor's degree with honors at Cairo University, followed by a master's degree in statistics and a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University. His career includes significant roles at Stanford University, holding 35 patents, and membership in the U.S. National Academy of Engineering. He has also co-founded startups in the semiconductor and biotechnology sectors.
Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the Great Arab Minds Higher Committee, informed Professor El Gamal of his win during a video call, commending his scientific achievements and technological innovations that have significantly impacted digital transformation and communication systems.
The Engineering and Technology Committee for the 2025 edition was chaired by Her Excellency Sarah Al Amiri, Minister of Education. The committee included prominent figures such as Dr. Arif Al Hammadi, Dr. Mohammed Qasem, Professor Ismael Al-Hinti, and Adel Darwish.
Great Arab Minds, regarded as the Arab equivalent to the Nobel Prize, aims to inspire future generations and revive the region's historic contributions to human advancement. Now in its third edition, it continues to honor exceptional Arab achievers in fields shaping scientific and cultural progress across the Arab world. The initiative also seeks to counter brain drain and inspire younger generations to achieve meaningful impacts within their communities.