Amman — At the closing of its 18th Annual Forum, ARIJ announced the winners of the 2025 Arab Investigative Journalism Awards, marking the sixteenth consecutive year. The awards recognize outstanding Arab investigative journalism and celebrate the integrity and professionalism of journalists who contribute to upholding high standards despite the challenging circumstances and restrictions facing the world today and the Arab region in particular. A total of 166 investigations from 26 countries competed for the award.

The Gold Award went to ARIJ and The Guardian investigation, “The Fangs of Israel.. How Europe supplies Israel with brutal canine weapons,” by Mahmoud ElSobky, with contributions from Aziza Nofal from the West Bank and Zareefa Hasan from Gaza. The investigation was published across several Arab platforms, including Ma’an News Agency, Palgraph, Alyaoum 24, Al-Moustaqbal, Raseef22, Muwatin, Aabir, Sayoun Radio, Khuyout, Al-Mohajer, and Madar News. This investigation revealed how Israel is using military dogs, exported from European countries, as weapons against Palestinian civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in its war on Gaza and the West Bank. It also shows that European companies specialised in training military dogs are clearly disregarding ethical and legal standards by selling these dogs to Israel.

The jury awarded the Silver Award to the ARIJ and Al-Mohajer investigation, “The Human Trap: Sudanese refugees falling prey to organized criminal gangs on the border with Egypt,” by journalists Ihab Zidan and Salma Abdel Aziz. It was published on Raseef22, Aabir, Mada News, Al-Mohajir, Sayoun Radio, and Alyaoum 24. The investigation exposed the operations of organized gangs engaged in human trafficking along the Egyptian-Sudanese border, targeting groups of Sudanese refugees fleeing the armed conflict in Sudan in search of safety inside Egypt.

The Bronze Award was shared by two investigations; the first was ARIJ and Jummar investigation “Deadly Deliveries… The Hidden Face of Delivery Companies in Iraq” by journalists Hassan al-Shanoun and Mizer Kamal. It was published on Aabir, Dijlah TV, Mada News, Muwatin, Al-Moustaqbal, and Alyaoum 24. The investigation traced the deadly risks faced by delivery drivers in Iraq, where accidents are frequent amid a complete absence of guarantees and insurance. 

The second investigation, which shared the Bronze Award, was ARIJ and Muwatin investigation “Shrapnel on the Altar.. Sudan’s Churches Caught in the Crossfire Between Two Warring Parties” by journalist Hamed Fathi. It was published on Al-Mohajer, Mada News, Daraj, Sayoun Radio, and Alyaoum 24. This investigation revealed that both parties in the Sudanese conflict bear responsibility for attacks and damage inflicted on several churches. It attributed specific incidents to each side and highlights actions that, under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, may constitute war crimes or crimes against humanity.

The jury also gave a special mention to Hawamich investigation “Farms Under Control: How Does an ‘Unlicensed Israeli App’ Threaten Morocco’s Sovereignty?” by journalist Sami Sabir.

The jury was chaired by Dr. Nadia Al-Sakkaf, a Yemeni political expert and researcher, and included Dr. Nawaf Al Tamimi, an academic and media consultant from Palestine; Nazeeha Saeed, a journalist and trainer from Bahrain; Rasha Faek, a managing editor from Syria; and Ahmad Ibeidah, an anchor and film producer from Morocco.

The submissions were open to all journalists from Arab countries, as well as Arabs in the diaspora, who produced investigations in Arabic during the current year, whether in collaboration with ARIJ or with other institutions.

The closing ceremony marked the end of three days (5–7 December) of ARIJ 18th Annual Forum, which was attended in person by more than 900 colleagues from over 50 countries around the world, in addition to 1,600 participants online. The ceremony was hosted by ARIJ’s Director General Rawan Daman, who also announced the awards.

The awards were presented by the ambassadors of Sweden and the Netherlands, along with diplomats from Norway and the European Union. The ceremony featured remarks by award-winning investigative journalist Frederik Obermaier, Rasha Faek representing the jury, Dr. Zahera Harb, ARIJ Chairperson, and Jesper Højberg, founder and Executive Director of the International Media Support (IMS).

It is worth noting that ARIJ has trained more than 20,000 journalists, editors, and fact-checkers across the Arab world over the past 20 years and has supervised the production and publication of more than 1,000 investigative reports and in-depth stories. In 2020, it established the first Arab fact-checkers network, and in 2021, it launched the first Arab whistleblower platform. In 2024, ARIJ announced its AI strategy to support investigative reporting and fact-checking across the Arab world.