King Faisal Prize (KFP) KFP Website
“The greatness of an individual is not the result of noble descent, but of accomplishments and purpose in life.”
IN THE WORDS OF PRINCE KHALID ALFAISAL
Chairman, King Faisal Prize Board
The greatness of a nation is not measured by the size of its material possessions, but by its role in the progress of mankind. The Islamic nation has established its prominent place in history not through its material resources, but through its vast contributions to the present civilization.
Similarly, the greatness of an individual is not the result of noble descent, but of accomplishments and purpose in life. These were the principles for which Faisal bin Abdulaziz lived, and for which he was martyred. Not only was he a great monarch but also a great missionary of justice and peace, a man of purpose, intellect and passion.
The establishment of the King Faisal Foundation, and the inception of the King Faisal International Prize as one of the Foundation’s projects, drew from the humanitarian and noble values of Islam, which King Faisal held throughout his life. The prize seeks to realize some of his aspirations for the progress of mankind, and particularly his desire to emphasize the role of Arabs and Muslims towards that progress.
The prize was inaugurated 36 years ago, initially in three fields: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies and Arabic Literature. Two additional prizes, Medicine and Science, soon followed.
THE PRIZE
Launched by the King Faisal Foundation (KFF) and granted for the first time in 1979, the King Faisal Prize (KFP) recognizes the outstanding works of individuals and institutions in five major categories: Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, Arabic Language and Literature, Medicine, and Science. Its aim is to benefit Muslims in their present and future, inspire them to participate in all aspects of civilization, as well as enrich human knowledge and develop mankind. KFP winners are evaluated only based on merit and their works are meticulously examined by specialized selection committees. The strict selection procedure meets international standards, and many of the laureates who have been awarded the prize went on to receive other prestigious prizes, such as the Nobel Prize.
AT A GLANCE
> Click on location points to learn more about winners' nationalities
Netherlands
2 1China
1Canada
5 3United States of America
1 26 23Great Britain
1 1 12 12France
1 1 1 4Germany
1 3 5Denmark
1Sweden
1Italy
5Hungary
1Bosnia
1Malaysia
3Philippines
1Palestine
1 1Niger
1Senegal
1Nigeria
1South Africa
1Lebanon
1 1 2Sudan
1 2 1Egypt
5 7 22Saudi Arabia
14 7 3Pakistan
2Afghanistan
1Kuwait
2 1United Emirates
2Russia
1 2Austria
1Australia
2 1India
2 2 1Japan
3 2Switzerland
2 3Algeria
1Tunisia
2Jordan
2 4Syria
2 3Morocco
2 6Iraq
4 2Qatar
1Bangladesh
1Indonesia
2Turkey
1 2AT A GLANCE
Categories
WINNERS THIS YEAR
| Winner | KFIP | Nobel Prize | Professor Gerd Binnig | 1984 | 1986 | Professor Heinrich Rohrer | 1984 | 1986 | Professor Robert G. Edwards | 1989 | 2010 | Professor Theodore W. Hanch | 1989 | 2005 | Professor Ahmed H. Zewail | 1989 | 1999 | Professor Sydney Brenner | 1992 | 2002 | Professor Luc Montagnier | 1993 | 2008 | Professor Francoise Barre Sinoussi | 1993 | 2008 | Professor Steven Chu | 1993 | 1997 | Professor K. Barry Sharpless | 1995 | 2001 | Professor Gunter Blobel | 1996 | 1999 | Professor James E. Rothman | 1996 | 2013 | Professor Carl E. Wieman | 1997 | 2001 | Professor Eric Allin Cornell | 1997 | 2001 | Professor Ryoji Noyori | 1999 | 2001 | Professor Frank Wilczek | 2005 | 2004 | Professor Shinya Yamanaka | 2011 | 2012 | Professor James Fraser Stoddart | 2007 | 2016 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Gairdner Foundation International Awards | Professor Alexander J. Varshavsky | 2012 | 1999 | Professor Luc Montagnier | 1993 | 1987 | Professor Jeffrey M. Friedman | 2013 | 2005 | Professor Douglas L. Coleman | 2013 | 2005 | Professor Tak W. Mak | 1995 | 1989 | Professor Mark M.Davis | 1995 | 1989 | Professor Shinya Yamanaka | 2011 | 2009 | Professor Janet D. Rowley | 1988 | 1996 | Professor Gunter Blobel | 1996 | 1982 | Professor Raymond U. Lemieux | 1990 | 1985 | Professor Pierre Chambon | 1988 | 2010 | Professor Sir Michael J. Berridge | 1986 | 1988 | Professor Sir Gregory P. Winte | 1995 | 2013 |
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| Winner | KFIP | American National Medal of Science | Professor George M. Whitesides | 2011 | 1998 | Professor Richard Zare | 2011 | 1983 | Professor Thomas Starzl | 2001 | 2004 | Professor Edward O.Wilson | 2000 | 1976 | Professor M. Fredrick Hawthorne | 2003 | 2011 | Professor Janet D. Rowley | 1988 | 1998 | Professor Frank A. Cotton | 1990 | 1982 | Professor Dennis P. Sullivan | 1994 | 2004 | Professor John Craig Venter | 2000 | 2008 | Professor Chen Ning Yang | 2001 | 1986 | Professor Mustafa Amr El Sayed | 1990 | 2007 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Lasker Basic Medical Research Award | Professor Alexander J. Varshavsky | 2012 | 2000 | Professor Sydney Brenner | 1992 | 1971 | Professor Shinya Yamanaka | 2011 | 2009 | Professor Jeffrey M. Friedman | 2013 | 2010 | Professor Douglas L. Coleman | 2013 | 2010 | Professor Pierre Chambon | 1988 | 2004 | Professor James E. Rothman | 1996 | 2002 | Professor Gunter Blobel | 1996 | 1993 | Professor Sir Michael J. Berridge | 1986 | 1989 |
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| Winner | KFIP | British Royal Medals | Professor Sydney Brenner | 1992 | 1974 | Professor Sir Richard Doll | 2005 | 1986 | Professor Sir Michael J. Berridge | 1986 | 1991 | Professor Simon Kirwan Donaldson | 2006 | 1992 | Professor Ricardo Miledi | 1988 | 1998 | Professor Sir Richard Peto | 2005 | 2002 | Professor Terence Chi-Shen Tao | 2010 | 2014 | Professor Sir Gregory P. Winter | 1995 | 2011 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Fields Medal in Mathematics | Professor Simon Kirwan Donaldson | 2006 | 1986 | Professor Terence Chi-Shen Tao | 2010 | 2006 | Professor Gerd Faltings | 2014 | 1986 | Professor Enrico Bombieri | 2010 | 1974 | Professor Sir Michael Atiyah | 1987 | 1966 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Louis Jenteat Prize in Medicine | Professor Hugh R. Pelham | 1996 | 1991 | Professor Pierre Chambon | 1988 | 1991 | Professor Sir Gregory P. Winter | 1995 | 1989 | Professor Luc Montagnier | 1993 | 1986 | Professor Sir Michael J. Berridge | 1986 | 1986 | Professor Sir Richard Peto | 2005 | 1997 | Professor Sydney Brenner | 1992 | 1987 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Shaw Prize | Professor Jeffrey M. Friedman | 2013 | 2009 | Professor Simon Kirwan Donaldson | 2006 | 2009 | Professor Douglas L. Coleman | 2013 | 2009 | Professor Shinya Yamanaka | 2011 | 2008 | Professor Andrew J. Wiles | 1998 | 2005 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Welch Foundation Prize in Chemistry | Professor Frank A. Cotton | 1990 | 1994 | Professor Koji Nakanishi | 2003 | 1996 | Professor Ahmed H. Zewail | 1989 | 1997 | Professor Pierre Chambon | 1988 | 1998 | Professor Richard Zare | 2011 | 1999 | Professor George M. Whitesides | 2011 | 2005 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Principe De Asturias Prize | Professor Luc Montagnier | 1993 | 2000 | Professor George M. Whitesides | 2011 | 2008 | Professor Ricardo Miledi | 1988 | 1999 | Professor Sir Gregory P. Winter | 1995 | 2012 |
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| Winner | KFIP | The Crafoord Prize Medal | Professor Edward O.Wilson | 2000 | 1990 | Professor Rashid A. Sunyaev | 2009 | 2008 | Professor Simon Kirwan Donaldson | 2006 | 1994 | Professor Terence Chi-Shen Tao | 2010 | 2012 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biomedicine | Professor Richard Zare | 2011 | 2009 | Professor Shinya Yamanaka | 2011 | 2010 | Professor Jeffrey M. Friedman | 2013 | 2012 | Professor Alexander J. Varshavsky | 2012 | 2011 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Gottfried Wilhelm Liebnitz Prize | Professor Gerd Faltings | 2014 | 1996 | Professor Ferenc Krausz | 2013 | 2006 | Professor Theodore W. Hanch | 1989 | 1988 | Professor Laurens Molenkamp | 2018 | 2014 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Marcel Benoist Prize | Professor Dieter Seebach | 1999 | 2000 | Professor Rudiger Wehner | 2008 | 2002 | Professor Michael Grätzel | 2015 | 2013 | Professor Daniel Loss | 2018 | 2010 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Awards | Professor Janet D. Rowley | 1988 | 1998 | Professor Luc Montagnier | 1993 | 1986 | Professor Robert G. Edwards | 1989 | 2001 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Lorentz Gold Medal | Professor Frank Wilczek | 2005 | 2002 | Professor Eric Allin Cornell | 1997 | 1998 | Professor Carl E. Wieman | 1997 | 1998 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Kyoto Prize | Professor Shinya Yamanaka | 2011 | 2010 | Professor George M. Whitesides | 2011 | 2003 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Abel Prisen | Professor Sir Michael Atiyah | 1987 | 2004 | Professor Andrew J. Wiles | 1998 | 2016 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Albert Einstein Medal | Professor Chen Ning Yang | 2001 | 1995 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Copley Medal of the Royal Society | Professor Sir Michael Atiyah | 1987 | 1988 | Professor Sydney Brenner | 1992 | 1991 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Benjamin Franklin Medal | Professor Sir Michael Atiyah | 1987 | 1993 | Professor Edward O.Wilson | 2000 | 1998 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Dirac Medal in Physics | Professor Frank Wilczek | 2005 | 1994 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Edison Medal | Professor Federico Capasso | 2005 | 2004 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Bower Prize | Professor Chen Ning Yang | 2001 | 1994 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Pulitzer Prize | Professor Edward O.Wilson | 2000 | 1979 |
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| Winner | KFIP | Nevanlinna Prize in Mathematics | Professor Peter W. Shor | 2002 | 1998 |
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Laureates also won
- 4 Principe De Asturias Prize
- 5 Shaw Prize
- 2 Abel Prisen
- 4 Gottfried Wilhelm Liebnitz Prize
- 1 Dirac Medal in Physics
- 1 Edison Prize
- 1 Bower Prize
- 4 The Crafoord Prize Medal
- 2 Copley Medal of the Royal Society
- 2 Benjamin Franklin Medal
- 3 Lorentz Gold Medal
- 4 Marcel Benoist Prize
- 2 Kyoto Prize
- 6 Welch Foundation Prize in Chemistry
- 1 Pulitzer Prize
- 1 Albert Einstein Medal
- 7 Louis Jenteat Prize in Medicine
- 1 Nevanlinna Prize in Mathematics
- 4 Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Biomedicine
THE YEARLY CYCLE
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THE YEARLY CYCLE
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TOPICS ANNOUNCED
Topics for each of the 5 categories are chosen -
WINNERS’ SELECTION
- Nominations are made by institutions in the field
- Nominations are sorted to ensure compliance with the prize
- Nominations are reviewed to the highest standards
- Nominations are sent to referees for evaluation
- Final decision is made based on merit and recommendations
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WINNERS ANNOUNCED
In January, after the Selection Committees conclude their meetings, Prince Khalid Alfaisal announces the names of the winners. -
AWARD CEREMONY
The winners are invited to receive their awards during a ceremony held for this purpose, under the auspices of the King of Saudi Arabia.
ACROSS THE YEARS
The early years of the King Faisal International Prize, from left to right, Prince Khalid Alfaisal, Prince Abdallah Alfaisal, King Fahad Bin Abdulaziz, Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz.
The King Faisal International Prize, in cooperation with The Royal Society, held a Symposium in London entitled “ Science and Medicine in the 21st Century- A Global Perspective”. The event celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Science and Medicine Prizes. The photograph shows the previous winners of this prize.
30th anniversary of the King Faisal International Prize, where all previous winners were invited to attend.
Professor Fuat M. Sezgin, winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Islamic Studies, 1979 (1399H)
Shaikh Sayyid Abul A’la Al-Mawdodi, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 1979 (1399H)
H.M. King Khalid Bin Abdulaziz, the first King to receive the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 1981 (1401H)
Professor David C. Morley, the first winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, 1982 (1402H)
Professor Sir Michael J. Berridge, one of the first winners of the King Faisal International prize in Science, 1986 (1406H)
King Fahad Bin Abdulaziz awards the 1987 (1407H) King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam to Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi. The distinguished laureate is Nigeria’s Grand Mufti and Supreme Advisor on Islamic Affairs.
Professor Janet D. Rawley, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, and the first female winner, 1988 (1408H)
Professor Ahmed H. Zewail, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Science, 1989 (1409H)
Dr. Francois Barré-Sinoussi, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, 1993 (1413H)
President Alija Izetbegoviç, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 1993 (1413H)
Professor Aisha Abdulrahman, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Arabic Language and Literature, 1994 (1414H)
Professor Wadad A. Kadi, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Arabic Language and Literature, 1994 (1414H)
Mrs. Salma L. Al-Kowzbari, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Arabic Language and Literature, 1995 (1415H)
The King Faisal Foundation held, in cooperation with Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, a symposium entitled “Islam and the Arab Culture in the New World” in 1995 (1415H) and it was attended by many guests and previous winners of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, Islamic Studies, and Arabic Literature.
Hon. Dr. Mahathir bin Muhammad, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 1997 (1417H)
H.E. President Abdou Diouf, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 1998 (1418H)
Professor Makarim Ghamri, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Arabic Language and Literature, 1999 (1419H)
A group photograph of the winners of the King Faisal International Prize in 2000 (1420H)
Professor Cynthia Kenyon of the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, 2000 (1420H)
Professor Ibrahim Abd Al-Rahim Al Saafin, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Arabic Language and Literature, 2001 (1421H)
Sultan Ibn Abdulaziz Al Saud Foundation, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 2003 (1423H)
Professor Carol Hillenbrand, winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Islamic Studies, 2005 (1425H)
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abd Allah bin Abdulaziz, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 2008 (1428H)
A group photograph of the winners of the King Faisal International prize in 2008 (1428H), amongst the winners is King Abd Allah Bin Abdulaziz.
Professor Johanne Martel-Pelletier, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, 2010 (1430H)
H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, winner of the King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam, 2010 (1430H)
Professor Shinya Yamanaka, co-winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Medicine, 2011 (1431H), who went on to receive a Nobel Prize two years later.
Professor Alexander J. Varshavsky, winner of the King Faisal International Prize in Biology, 2012 (1432H)
A group photograph of the winners of the King Faisal International prize in 2015 (1436H), amongst the winners is King Salman Bin Abdulaziz.