In a prestigious ceremony recognizing Arab intellectual achievement, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has announced Dr. Nabil Seidah as the 2025 Great Arab Minds laureate in medicine. The Egyptian-Canadian scientist, who serves as Director of the Neuroendocrine Research Unit at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute, received this honor for his groundbreaking work in cardiovascular health and cholesterol metabolism.
Dr. Seidah’s pioneering research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of biological processes regulating cholesterol and fat metabolism within the human body. His decades of scientific investigation have directly contributed to the development of an entirely new class of cholesterol-lowering medications now widely prescribed globally to combat heart disease and reduce cardiovascular risks.
The scope of Dr. Seidah’s scientific contribution is evidenced by his publication of over 820 research papers, which have garnered more than 71,000 citations within the scientific community—a testament to the significant impact of his work on medical science.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized the importance of recognizing Arab intellectual achievement, stating: ‘Medicine represents a humanitarian mission, and our region has historically played a profound role in developing medical sciences, practices, and research tools. The Great Arab Minds Award reorients the compass to its proper direction, celebrating the contributions of Arab individuals and presenting them as role models for future generations.’
Now in its third edition, the Great Arab Minds initiative has established itself as the most prestigious recognition of intellectual achievement in the Arab world, often referred to as the ‘Arab Nobel.’ The program’s credibility received substantial validation when the 2024 award recipient in the same category, Professor Omar Yaghi, subsequently won the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.