Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), a division of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), has disclosed the shortlists for its 2026 Research Grants Programme. This announcement follows a rigorous evaluation process that selected 20 projects from a longlist of 43, based on scientific and competitive standards.
According to Emirates News Agency, this year's programme attracted 623 applicants from 34 countries, both Arab and non-Arab. This participation underscores the increasing interest in Arabic language research and highlights the programme's role as a leading initiative in supporting specialized scientific research in the region and beyond.
The selection process was guided by ALC Chairman's Decision No. (3) of 2026, which led to the formation of a specialized Scientific Committee. This committee, comprised of distinguished academics and experts in Arabic language and humanities, applied stringent criteria to evaluate the projects. These criteria focused on the originality of the topic, research methodology quality, knowledge contribution, and relevance to Arabic language research priorities.
The shortlisted projects cover a range of disciplines, such as Literature and Criticism, Applied and Computational Linguistics, Arabic Dictionary, Manuscript Editing, Curriculum Development, and Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers. Notable entries in the Literature and Criticism category include studies on early Islamic poetry, Arabic immigrant poetry, and the influence of French Orientalism on Arabic literature.
In the Arabic Dictionary category, projects like 'Palm Tree Vocabulary in UAE Dialects: A Linguistic Study' and 'The Etymological Dictionary of Historical Site Names in the United Arab Emirates' were highlighted. The Manuscript Editing category features works on historical texts and social discourse in Ottoman Egypt.
The shortlist for Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers includes innovative approaches to building linguistic competence, while the Curriculum Development category explores the representation of camels in educational materials across GCC countries.
The shortlisted projects will move forward to the final evaluation and judging stage, with successful grant recipients to be announced in the future.