A veteran columnist at Akhbar Al Khaleej, who won a prestigious journalism award for highlighting the need for responsible use of social media during the period of Iranian aggression against Bahrain and the wider region, has described the honour as a ‘deeply personal and patriotic milestone’.
Mahmeed Al Mahmeed was named joint winner of the Best Column Award at the 10th edition of the Prime Minister’s Award for Journalism, sharing the honour with Al Ayam columnist Khalil Ibrahim Al Thawadi, whose work tackled the same issue from a different perspective.
Mr Al Mahmeed, 54, a father of four, said receiving the accolade for the second time in the award’s decade-long history was indeed ‘a proud moment’.
“When I first started as a teenager at Akhbar Al Khaleej and was given responsibility for checking the letters page, I learnt to listen to people and took their hardships as lessons from which I started building my future columns,” he told the GDN.
“The award is a culmination of the work we do. People’s recognition and acceptance mean far more to us.”
Joint winner Mr Al Thawadi said his columns highlighted the partnership between the Bahrain Defence Force, the Interior Ministry, the National Guard and the national media in confronting the Iranian aggression.
“We wrote what our patriotic conscience demanded from us at a time when we needed to stand together, each in our own capacity,” he said.
The ceremony also celebrated one of Bahrain’s most respected media figures, Mounis Al Mardi, who received the 2026 Journalism Personality Award in recognition of decades of service to the profession. A former Bahrain Journalists Association chairman, Mr Al Mardi paid an emotional tribute to his late father, journalism pioneer Mahmood Al Mardi.
“My father built me a dream by founding Akhbar Al Khaleej and the Gulf Daily News,” he said. “I simply fell in love with journalism from the first day and realised how fascinating the process was. That journey now passes like a flash before my eyes.”
Among the other winners was Al Ayam editor-in-chief and Bahrain Journalists Association vice-chairman Rashid Al Hamer, who received the Best Interview Award for his exclusive interview with former Saudi Arabian foreign minister Prince Turki Al Faisal, conducted a month before the Iranian aggression. “It is a great privilege to win the award for the second time,” he said.
Al Ayam journalist Mohammed Bahar won the Best Visual Journalistic Content Award for a video highlighting the Iranian aggression and Bahrain’s patriotic response. He said the recognition encouraged him to continue producing compelling visual journalism that informs the public while highlighting the kingdom’s unity and resilience.
Al Bilad journalist Shaymaa Hussain, who received the Best Investigative Journalism Award, said the honour would inspire her to continue pursuing stories that raise public awareness and address important social issues.
Al Watan editor-in-chief Faisal Al Ali won the Best Newspaper Niche Page or Supplement Award, describing it as recognition of the team’s efforts to produce high-quality specialised content and saying it would inspire them to continue innovating.
Bahrain News Agency photographer Mohammed Abdulrahman Al Mulla took home the Best Photography Award for his image of His Majesty King Hamad during a visit to the Royal Guard. He said the honour reaffirmed the power of photojournalism in documenting defining national moments and preserving history through images.
Al Bilad business journalist Omar Abdul Salam Al Kaabneh received the Best Infographic Report Award. He said the recognition reflected the growing importance of data-driven storytelling and motivated him to further develop infographic journalism.
His colleague Hudhaifa Al Dabou received the Best Press Institution’s Website or Electronic Account Award.
The Best University Student Journalism Project Award was jointly presented to Nariman Mohammed Al Dulaimi of Ahlia University, Mohammed Hashim Saeed of Bahrain Polytechnic and Ahmed Rashid Al Hilli of Bahrain University.
Ahlia University board of trustees president Professor Abdulla Al Hawaj praised the award, saying it played a vital role in motivating students and nurturing the next generation of Bahraini journalists.
Ms Al Dulaimi said she was honoured to receive the award for her project on the Bahrain Fort Museum, adding that the recognition motivated her to continue producing meaningful journalism that serves the nation.
Mr Saeed said the achievement would inspire him and fellow students to strive for excellence while pursuing careers in journalism.
Mr Al Hilli described the award as a significant milestone that strengthened his determination to contribute to Bahrain’s media sector with professionalism and creativity.
The Prime Minister’s Award for Journalism is regarded as Bahrain’s highest media honour, recognising excellence across print, digital, visual and student journalism while celebrating media professionals whose work strengthens the profession and serves the kingdom.
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