The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud patronized here last evening, King Faisal International Prize Ceremony for 2016. Upon arrival of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the venue, at Prince Sultan Grand Hall of Al Faisaliah Hotel, the King was received by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Advisor to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Governor of Makkah Region and chairman of King Faisal International Prize Committee, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Board of King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Abdul Rahman Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Prince Bandar bin Saud bin Khalid, Deputy Secretary General of the King Faisal Foundation, Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al-Faisal and a number of princes. Then the Royal Anthem was played. Then the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with the winners of all branches of King Faisal International Prize, welcoming them in Saudi Arabia and offering them congratulations on winning King Faisal International Prize, in its various branches. A photocell depicting the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques with the winners, was held. After the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques took the main place in the podium, the ceremony commenced by reading verses from the Holy Quran. Then Prince Khalid Al-Faisal delivered a congratulatory speech in which he said: In the name of God the Merciful, Praise be to God and prayer and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, their Highnesses and Excellencies, Brothers and Sisters, peace and God's mercy and blessings. Prince Al-Faisal reiterated congratulations to the winners and thanked the audience, saying that bless to Allah who made our country, in the light of Islam and sent the messenger of love and peace to us, remembering that King Abdulaziz first wise deed was rehabilitating the desert, then he sent to each mini-village and a village a teacher and preacher, to teach people to lay by science their foundation stone to contribute in construction of this great entity, in order to keep the race, in every horizon and canopy, addressing the Monarch: O King of firmness and determination, beatitude with this towering country to lead to the peaks and peace be upon you. Then, the Secretary General of King Faisal International Prize Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Sabeel presented the winners of the prize of all branches. Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the audience watched a visual presentation of each of the winners and their efforts and achievements. Thereafter, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud handed prizes to the winners, as follows: First: King Faisal International Prize for Service to Islam and was awarded to Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, the Adviser at the Royal Court, member of the Commission of Senior Scholars, Imam and Preacher of the Grand Mosque and President of the Jeddah-based International Islamic Fiqh Academy. Second: King Faisal International Prize for Islamic Studies was awarded to Prof. Abdullah Bin Yousif Al-Ghunaim, president of the Kuwaiti Studies and Research Center. Third: King Faisal International Prize for Arabic Language and Literature was awarded to Prof. Mohammed Al-Ghazawani Muftah from Morocco and Prof. Mohammed Abdul Muttalib Mustafa from Egypt. Fourth: King Faisal International Prize for Medicine: theme (clinical applications for the next generation in genetics). It was awarded jointly to: Prof. Dr. Henry Greet Brunner (Dutch nationality) and Prof. Dr. Gjorce Feltman (Dutch nationality). Fifth: King Faisal International Prize for Science: The theme of this year was biology. The winners are Professor Stephen Philip Jackson (UK) and Prof. Dr. Famsy Krishna Mutha (United States). In consecutive statements, the winners touched on their scientific and research efforts. Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the audience watched a film about former Secretary of King Faisal International Prize, Dr. Abdullah Al-Othaimeen. Then, the King handed Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Othaimeen an honorary shield on behalf of his father. Then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques graced a dinner banquet held on this occasion. At the end of the ceremony, the royal anthem was played and then, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques left the venue of the ceremony. The event was attended by a number of princes and senior officials.
