El-Fakharany and the Merit Award

Yehia El-Fakharany represents a unique human and artistic phenomenon that has enriched the hearts of Egyptian and Arab viewers for over forty years of continuous dedication. He is an actor who entered homes and was welcomed by all, occupied hearts, and crafted characters that became an inseparable part of our memory.

We couldn't forget "Selim El-Badri" in Layali El-Helmya? Or "Bishr Amer Abdel Zaher" in Zizinia? These are characters etched into history, making him the "Dean" of drama, over his performance in the "Mama Nona" to the sophisticated "Zizinia" , and the epic in Layali El-Helmya that lived through entire generations with all its details.

Throughout the years, Yehia El-Fakharany has presented art that respects the mind and speaks to the heart. He chose his roles carefully that made him one of the closest artists to the people and the most influential in their consciousness—honest, simple, and profound.

This year, the Farouk Hosny Foundation for Culture and Arts has chosen him to receive the Grand Merit Award. This marks the first time the foundation has honored a drama actor, breaking its long-standing tradition of honoring icons of fine arts to grant its highest prize to an artist who shaped the awareness of entire generations through the screen and the stage.

Choosing El-Fakharany is a celebration of a long artistic history that created joy, touched pain, and expressed the Egyptian person in their most delicate states. His presence remains a testament that true art remains and lives on.

The selection of "El-Fakharany" for the 2026 Grand Merit Award is a decision that touches the heart of every Egyptian and Arab citizen. He is the "Magician" who holds the keys to hearts, and the doctor who left medicine to heal our souls with art. He was the brave "Son of the soil," the "Intellectual" preoccupied with his nation's issues, and the "Khawaga" (foreigner) whom you feel is one of us.

He has been a dear guest in our homes, making us laugh and cry, taking us on human journeys across the screen and theater. With his innate talent, overwhelming presence, and deep academic study, he has carved a place in the hearts of millions and sat upon the throne of art.

The amazing thing of this honoring is that it comes from the Farouk Hosny Foundation—an entity bearing the name of a great artist and a cultured minister who always realized that soft power is Egypt’s true weapon. The role played by Farouk Hosny and his foundation is an enlightening one, building bridges among generations, supporting the youth, and honoring icons. It is a message of loyalty, confirming that Egypt never forgets its sons.

Congratulations to Yehia El-Fakharany for this renewed love, and congratulations to Egyptian art which gave birth to an artist who resembles the people and their dreams. Congratulations also to the Farouk Hosny Foundation, which encourages art and creativity at a time when we are in dire need for it.