The 11th International Conference of the “Arab Impact Factor” announced the selection of His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Prof. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, as Person of the Year 2026. This recognition comes as an appreciation of his scholarly, intellectual, and humanitarian contributions, his global efforts in promoting values of peace and coexistence, and his role in strengthening Al-Azhar's position as a global beacon of knowledge, disseminating enlightened and moderate thought.
This honor was bestowed during the 11th International Conference of the Arab Impact Factor, hosted by Al-Azhar University for the first time under the theme "Islamic Economics and Digital Transformation," from May 7-9, 2026. The conference brought together a distinguished group of scholars, researchers, and academics from across the Arab world.
The Arab Impact Factor is a leading Arab scientific initiative that evaluates and ranks peer-reviewed scientific journals according to international academic standards. This contributes to raising the quality of Arab scientific research, supporting scientific publication in Arabic, and enhancing the presence of Arab universities and research institutions at both the regional and international levels.
The selection of His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar as “Person of the Year 2026” reflects the high scholarly and intellectual standing that the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar enjoys at the Arab and international levels, and his influential role in supporting the issues of the nation, renewing religious discourse, and building bridges of dialogue and understanding between different peoples and cultures.