Professor Abd Al-Aziz Bin Nasir Al-Manie

Abdulaziz Al-Manie obtained his bachelor’s degree from the College of Arabic Language in Riyadh in 1966 and a Ph.D. from Exeter University in the United Kingdom in 1976. A specialist in the verification of ancient Arabic manuscripts, Professor Al-Manie pursued an academic career, first as a lecturer in the Department of Arabic Language at Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah and, as of 1977, in the Department of Arabic Language at the College of Arts, King Saud University, Riyadh, where he is currently an Emeritus Professor of Ancient Arabic Literature.

In addition to teaching and research, Professor Al-Manie was entrusted with several academic and administrative responsibilities during his career. He was the Director of the College of Arts Research Council for two years, the Chairman of the Department of Arabic Language for another two years, the College of Arts’ representative in the Board of the Post-Graduate Studies College for four years, the editor-in-chief of the College of Arts Journal (King Saud University) for four years, and the Director of the Saudi Arabian Educational Office in Los Angeles, California (USA) for two years. During the years of 2006 and 2007, he was a visiting professor at Sousa University in Tunisia.

Despite his numerous obligations, Professor Al-Manie participates actively in the cultural life of Riyadh through his public lectures and literary articles. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Riyadh Literary Club. He is also a member of the Saudi Arabian Arabic Language Society, the Academic Committee of Shaikh Hamad Al-Jasir Cultural Center in Riyadh, the editorial board of Al-Arab magazine, and a consultant editor of other Riyadh-based publications, including Aalam Al-Kutub (Book World), Aalam Al-Makhtoutat (Manuscript World) and Al-Dir’iya, as well as the Jordanian Journal of Arabic Language and Literature published by Mutah University in Jordan.

Professor Al-Manie is a prolific researcher in his field of specialization. He authored more than fifteen books dealing with the verification of ancient Arabic literary works, published numerous articles locally and internationally and participated in many conferences and symposia in Saudi Arabia, Australia, the United Kingdom, India, Italy, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan. In addition, he has been contributing for over thirty years to his Department’s weekly seminars on language and literature issues.

This biography was written in the year the prize was awarded.