© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved.
20 Years of Celebrating Innovation
Congratulations to our Champion of Excellence for winning the prestigious website prize!

H.E Dr. Munir Eldesouki
KACST President
Chairman of the Board
$500,000
The Largest PRIZE in food security in dryland regions
Time Remaining to start Nomination
The remaining time until the nomination ends
Submission is currently stopped for development the prize and website
© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved.
Who We Are
Almarai is a publicly traded joint-stock company based in Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1977 by HH Prince Sultan bin Mohammed. Over the years, the company has grown to become the largest food and beverage manufacturer and distributor in the Middle East, and the world's largest vertically integrated dairy company.
In 2001, Almarai partnered with King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) to establish "Almarai Prize for Scientific Creativity." The prize aimed to recognize the achievements of distinguished national researchers in research, development, and innovation and to support the national scientific and innovation communities.
To align with the Saudi Vision 2030 and the adoption of the four national priorities for R&D and innovation, Almarai and KACST have revamped the prize to introduced a new international prize called the "Almarai Prize." This prize is focused on "food security in dryland regions" and is open to scientists from around the globe, to become one of the world's largest awards in this field and help Almarai company to continue playing its vital role in ensuring the future of humanity “ Caring for People ".

Founder of Almarai Company
Prize Overview
01
The primary aim of the Almarai Prize is to honor exceptional researchers who have produced significant and transformative scientific contributions with both cognitive and economic ramifications within the realm of food security in dryland regions. These contributions align with the Kingdom’s "National Aspirations and Priorities for RDI", emphasizing its commitment to Sustainable Environment and Supply of Essential Needs.
Objectives of the Prize:
- Encouraging and providing support for researchers to engage in research aligned with the national priorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s research, development, and innovation sector, focusing on environmental sustainability and the provision of essential needs.
- Enhancing the Kingdom’s standing and progress in food security benchmarks by honoring scientific research and innovations within this field of interest.
- Spotlighting pioneering international efforts in the specialized field of food security in dryland regions and the potential for partners to leverage these advancements in advancing their own endeavors.
- Educating future generations about distinguished research and innovations within the Prize’s specified field, thereby inspiring their involvement in research, development, and innovation in the realm of food security.
Prize Overview
02
Prize Field
Target Group
Prize Value
Prize Cycle
Board of Trustees

H.E Dr. Munir Eldesouki
KACST President
Chairman of the Board
HH Prince Naif Al Saud
Almarai Board Chairman
Vice Chairman of the Board
Prof. Abdulaziz Almalik
Deputy Minister for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia
Board Member
Mr. Abdullah Al Bader
Almarai CEO
Board Member
Prof. Hani Choudhry
Vice Governor for Research Grants and National Programs, Research, Development and Innovation Authority (RDIA)
Board Member
Prof. Omar Yaghi
Professor of Chemistry/University of California, Berkeley
Board Member
Prof. Joel Cuello
Professor of Biosystems Engineering/The University of Arizona, USA
Board Member
Prof. Rod Wing
Director of the Centre for Desert Agriculture/ King Abdullah University of Science & Technology, Saudi Arabia.
Board Member
Mr. Abdullah Alkhaled
KACST
Board Member / SecretaryThe Prize is valued at five hundred thousand US dollars
$500,000
It is granted to a single winner. In exceptional circumstances where multiple researchers (not exceeding three researchers per nominated work) have contributed to the work and their essential roles are demonstrated, the Prize will be divided equally among them.
Nomination Information
Judges

Prof. Ahmed M Alabdulkader
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia
Prof. José Luis Rubio
The Spanish National Research Council, Spain
Dr. Jouke Campen
Wageningen University , Netherlands
Prof. Muhammad Farooq
Sultan Qaboos University, Oman
Prof. Rajeev K Varshney
Murdoch University, Australia
Laureates
2024

International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas
"Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries"