the sifr prize

Who is this for?

Anyone technical (scientist, engineer, technologist, clinician, etc) or anyone else who has spent real time thinking about a specific scientific or engineering problem in the Arab world and has a concrete idea of what research or development is needed to solve it. We're not looking for commentators. We're looking for people who could plausibly do the work, or who understand it well enough to describe what it would take.

Do I need to be from the region?

No. There are no nationality, ethnicity, age, language, or institutional requirements. You don't need to be Arab, live in the region, or hold any particular passport. If the problem you're writing about matters to the region, you're eligible.

Does the problem need to be region-wide?

No. The region is heterogeneous: some problems are shared across the Arab world, others are specific to one country or one city. No scale is preferred, all levels are welcome. What matters is that the problem is concrete, technical, and shaped by the region's realities.

Do I need a degree or title?

No. We don't care if you're a high school student, a professor, or a self-taught hobbyist. What matters is whether you know what you're talking about.

What kinds of submissions are you looking for?

Essays that identify a specific problem where the core challenge is scientific or engineering, and lay out what R&D would be needed to solve it. The best submissions will combine deep domain knowledge with a clear-eyed view of what's actually feasible.

What kinds of submissions don't fit?

Vague calls for "more funding" or "better institutions". Product or platform proposals where the main challenge is building or shipping, not solving an open scientific or engineering problem. General musings, policy papers, literature reviews, AI slop, or anything that reads like a homework assignment. Anything you could have written without real familiarity with the region's realities. We're also not interested in essays that describe a problem without proposing what to do about it.

Can teams co-author?

Sure. Submit under one lead name, add coauthors in the essay. If the essay wins, the prize will be paid to the lead entrant, who is responsible for splitting it with co-authors.

Can I submit more than one essay?

Yes.

Can I submit something I've published before?

Yes. But work written specifically for this prize is preferred. If you're submitting something published elsewhere, say where.

Who reads the essays?

All essays are read by Ubadah Sabbagh. We don't know in advance what disciplines submissions will cover, so we reach out to experts in relevant fields as needed.

Why English only?

We read technical work in English, and anyone we bring in as a reviewer reads at that level in English too. We can't properly assess the quality of technical writing in Arabic, and we'd rather be honest about that than pretend otherwise. In practice, most of the people we're trying to reach likely already do their technical work in English anyway.

How are essays judged?

We're looking at four things:

• Problem definition. A clear, specific description of a problem that matters to the region. It doesn't need to be unique to the Arab world, but the regional context should shape why it matters and what solving it looks like.
• Technical depth. Do you understand the science or engineering well enough to propose something that isn't hand-waving?
• Actionability. Could a small, motivated team actually start working on this tomorrow?
• Insight. Did we learn something from reading this? Is it a perspective on the problem that we wouldn't have arrived at on our own?

Are AI tools allowed?

Yes. You may use AI tools for anything. But the idea and judgment should be yours. If a submission reads like it could have been generated without real expertise, it probably won't do well.

Can I submit anonymously?

Yes. We need your real name and email to administer the contest and pay prizes. But if your essay is published, you may choose whether it appears under your name or anonymously.

What if I can't access the submission form?

We used Tally for the submission form, with email as a fallback for anyone who couldn't access it. Submissions are now closed.

What if no submission meets the bar?

We have a high bar, and we've tried to be clear about what we're looking for. We'd rather give no prize than lower the bar. If only one essay deserves it, we'll award one prize. If none do, we won't award any.

When are winners announced?

The deadline is July 15, 2026, 11:59 PM GMT. It was originally June 4; we extended it to give people more time around Eid and end-of-year exams. We expect to announce winners by late August, but timing may vary depending on the volume and range of submissions.

Who owns the work after submission?

You do. Authors retain full rights to their work.

What happens after the contest?

Winning essays are published. If you accept a prize, you agree to publication — under your name or anonymously, your choice. If you don't want the essay published, you can decline the prize. We may also select honorable mentions and ask to publish other distinguished essays, with the author's permission and preferred attribution.

Is the prize funding for the project I describe?

No. The prize is unrestricted cash, awarded in recognition of the essay. The ideas and the work remain yours. You can put it toward the project you wrote about, or toward anything else.

How are prizes paid?

We'll pay by bank transfer where possible. If there are legal or practical barriers to sending funds to your jurisdiction, we may need to work with you on an alternative lawful method or delay payment until one is available.

Who funds this?

There are no sponsors. This contest is funded by two individuals. The Sifr Prize is not affiliated with any organization.