In late 2015, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued a Decree establishing the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award to encourage those working in knowledge-related fields to innovate and create new ways to spread knowledge around the world. It reflects Dubai’s – and its Ruler’s – resolve to honour knowledge-related advancements anywhere in the world, all the while encouraging innovation and originality.
In 2024, His Highness issued a resolution forming the Board of Trustees of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Award (MBRKA), chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, with the membership of:
- Jamal Khalfan bin Huwaireb
- A representative of the United Arab Emirates University
- A representative of Cairo University
- A representative of Nanyang Technological University
- A representative of the University of Tokyo
- A representative of the Institute of International Education
The Award succeeded in attracting international attention to the Knowledge Summit, an unprecedented type of event in the region. The award is presented every year during the Knowledge Summit to honour a person or institution that has made outstanding contributions to the production and dissemination of knowledge.
With a monetary prize of a generous $1 million, the award is given to honour contributions of significant influence toward developing knowledge, inspiring others, and creating ways to promote knowledge.