Today, January 3, is Nabil Ali Mohamed's 82nd birthday — and Google Doodle has honoured the Egyptian by featuring him in a doodle on the search engine.

Born in Cairo in 1938, Mohamed's innovations in computational linguistics propelled the Arab world into the Information Age.

Mohamed studied at Cairo University and graduated with a PhD in Aeronautical Engineering. He then spent two decades working as an engineer with the Egyptian Air Force and with various computer and electronic companies around the globe.

He created rules that would enable computers to understand the Arabic language in digital form. Mohamed saw the digitzation of the Arabic language as a way to connect Arabic speakers with the rest of the world.

The Doodle

Some early concept designs of the Google Doodle that honours Nabil Ali Mohamed. Courtesy Google

The Google Doogle was created by Kevin Laughlin. The designer drew inspiration from title screens from the 8-bit era of video games.

"Footage of Professor Mohamed's computer seems to invoke a lot of nostalgia in people who remember his software, so I sought out images that created a similar nostalgia in myself," explains Laughlin.

Happy birthday, Dr. Nabil Ali.

Regional Google Doodles

Mohamed isn't the first regional personality to be honoured with a Google Doodle. Here are some other doodle's from that have celebrated MENA region heroes:

Egyptian actress, producer, writer and filmmaker Bahiga Hafez was born 112 years ago on August 4. Courtesy Google The Google Doodle for January 20, 2020 celebrates Mufidah Abdul Rahman. Google Doodle on June 10, 2019 celebrates Egyptian author Ahmed Khaled Towfik. Googl Google Doodle has honoured Iranian mathematician, poet and astronomer Omar Khayyam on what would have been his 971st birthday. Mary Mounib was a legendary actress in the Egyptian cinema scene. Her 114th birthday was marked on February 11, 2019 Google Doodle Egyptian poet Gamila El Alaily has been honoured in a Google Doodle on March 20, 2019. Syrian artist Louay Kayali is the subject of Google's doodle on January 20, 2019. Dalida's Google Doodle gif on January 17, 2019. Hind Rostom's 87th birthday was noted by Google on November 12, 2018. Ibn Sina, one of the greatest thinkers of Islam's golden age was honoured on August 7, 2018. This Google Doodle honours Talal Maddah on what would have been his 78th birthday on August 5, 2018 A Google Doodle gif marked actor Omar Sharif's birthday on April 10, 2018. Farouk Shousha was honoured by Google on what would have been his 82nd birthday on January 9, 2018. Courtesy Google Google celebratied the Lebanese icon Sabah's 90th birthday on November 10, 2017. Inji Aflatoun's Google Doodle pays homage of her style of bold brushstrokes. Google celebrates Mohammed Khadda's birthday, born March 14, 1930.