WikiArabia 2026/Scholarships
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The WikiArabia 2026 scholarship application period has officially closed. We appreciate the interest of all applicants. The review and selection process is currently underway, and the scholarship results will be announced as soon as they have been finalized.
2026 Highlights
[edit]- Contributions will be considered from 15 November 2024 to 15 March 2026 (the last 16 months).
- Automatic scholarships for group representatives will not be provided this year. Anyone wishing to represent their group should submit a scholarship application according to the criteria specified on this page.
- If a group wishes to send a representative to the conference under their own cost, they must submit a request and comply with the Self-Funded criteria, which will be published next month. This policy is in place to ensure the safety of all participants.
- This year, participants will be categorized as Newcomers or Established contributors based on their user-registration date:
- Newcomers: users who registered before at least 8 months prior to the start of the submission period (from 15 July 2025 to 15 March 2026).
- Established contributors: users who registered more than 8 months before the start of the submission period (before 15 July 2025).
- Will give newcomers a valuable opportunity to participate in the conference.
- Will cover the visa costs but will not manage the process. The scholarship recipients should apply for their visa directly, and we will provide the necessary documents. If this decision changes, we will contact you accordingly.
- This year, all participants; whether event scholars or self funded, will have QR codes, and they will not be able to enter the conference without it.
- The application period for scholarships will run from 15 March to 20 April.
What is a WikiArabia Travel Scholarship?
[edit]A scholarship provides financial support to help an individual attend WikiArabia 2026 in person. Recipients are chosen by the Scholarships Committee of the WikiArabia 2026, with funding provided by the Wikimedia Foundation.
Scholarships cover flights, accommodation, meals during the conference, social activities, and visa costs.
Eligibility Criteria
[edit]In this years, eligibility can be demonstrated by providing evidence of contributions across Wikimedia projects in any language that supports the Arab community. This includes organizing (campaigns, competitions, or community activities, etc.), being a primary contributor to Wikipedia or other Wikimedia sister projects, serving as a volunteer in Wikimedia committees or possessing talents that can support the on-site conference management or program.
Applicants (Within/From Arab community) may fall under one or more of the following categories:
- Organizers: Individuals who have organized global or local campaigns, events, competitions, community activities or conferences (either in-person or online) within a Wikimedia User Group or independently.
- Contributors: Active contributors to Wikimedia projects or sister projects. Users with extended rights will receive additional consideration, and contributors who create featured content, or upload Quality media will also receive additional recognition.
- Committee Members: Volunteers who serve or have served on Wikimedia committees (for example, grant committees, the U4C, or other movement committees).
- Membership will be considered from 15 November 2024 onward. For example, if you were a member of a committee in 2023 but left before 15 November 2024, your membership will not be taken into account. To be eligible, your membership must have been active on or after 15 November 2024.
- Talent Contributors within or outside the Arab community: Individuals with skills or talents that can support the conference team and program, such as video production, photography, design, music, or other creative contributions that can be used during the conference.
The team may approve exceptional cases outside these criteria if it determines that the scholarship application would provide significant benefit to the conference or the community.
Criteria for immediate refusal
[edit]Applications will be automatically disqualified if any of the following criteria apply:
- The application is empty.
- The applicant is currently globally banned by the Wikimedia Foundation or the community.
- The applicant has failed to make a reasonable effort to answer the questions on the application form.
- The applicant failed to comply with the Friendly Space Policy during their participation (in person or online) in any WikiArabia or other Wikimedia conferences in the past five years. This information will be collected from the COT of previous editions and the Trust & Safety team.
- If an applicant received a scholarship in WikiArabia 2024, confirmed acceptance, and travel arrangements were made, but the applicant did not attend the conference without a valid explanation/reason (For example: applying with an expired passport, or a passport that is not valid for at least six months, ..etc).
What is the process for a WikiArabia scholarship?
[edit]The decision workflow will follow these steps:
- Application submission: Individuals submit their scholarship application forms.
- Review and evaluation: The Scholarships Working Group reviews applications for eligibility and conducts the evaluation and voting process.
- Trust & Safety review: A Trust & Safety review will be conducted at a later stage to confirm applicants’ eligibility.
- Notification and logistics: Applicants will be informed of the decision. Selected Applicants will then be asked to provide the necessary information to allow the Wikimedia Foundation to arrange travel and accommodation.