LONDON: Independent Arabia has won a Fetisov Journalism Award prize for its investigation into an adoption-brokers network in Egypt, adding to the outlet’s growing list of honors since its launch in 2019.
Journalist Salah Labban won the 2025 prize in the civil rights category for his investigation, “The Dark World of Illegal Adoption in Egypt.” The win this week brings the outlet’s total awards to 11.
Laban described the investigation as the result of a “truly supportive professional environment” at Independent Arabia, thanking Editor-in-Chief Adhwan Al-Ahmari for giving him the space to carry out the work.
The award was presented in the seventh edition of the prize, described as the world’s richest journalism prize, with a total annual value of 520,000 Swiss francs, or about $600,000.
The competition drew 500 entries from 82 countries and was judged on criteria including accuracy, transparency, humanity and the work’s political, economic or social impact.
The latest recognition adds to a strong run for the Saudi Research and Media Group-owned outlet. Arab News is also owned by the SRMG.
In January, Aya Mansour won the 2025 Kurt Schork International Journalism Award in the local reporter category for reporting from Iraq, and for her careful handling of sensitive subjects.
In October 2025, Independent Arabia received the World Press Freedom Award on behalf of its late Gaza correspondent Mariam Abu Daqqa at a ceremony hosted by the International Press Institute in Vienna in partnership with International Media Support.
