The Foundation has since 1982 designated twelve awards in the name of Abdul Hameed Shoman to young Arab researchers, to promote Arab scientific research and provide incentives to upcoming generations of young Arab scientists. .

The Foundation announces every year six scientific fields in which awards are given from among the following: physics; geology; chemistry; medical sciences; mathematics; information technology; biological and environmental sciences; agricultural sciences; humanities (to include: history and geography, languages and literature, and antiquities and philosophy); economics, banking, and financial and management sciences; legal sciences and Islamic jurisprudence; education and psychology; social sciences (to include: sociology, political sciences and anthropology); and engineering sciences *.

Nominees to the award are expected to submit original research projects of scientific or social value to their society, which have been conducted during the preceding three years of the nomination. Researchers must be Arab citizens or of Arab ancestry and should be working in an Arab country, and no more than 45 years of age. Submitted projects are judged on the bases of their originality; methodology; scientific value; and the quality of text, its sources and references, by a specialized judging committee that refers its selection of winners and recommendations to the scientific committee for the award.