"List of gold".. A renewed cultural vision to revive the Emirati and Arab storytelling arts
ABU DHABI, 5 APRIL / WAM / The “Gold Narrative” award, launched by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center in 2023, embodies a renewed cultural vision to revive the arts of Arabic storytelling, and consolidate the position of narration as one of the most prominent components of cultural identity in the Arab world, as it seeks to re-present this ancient art in a contemporary spirit that combines originality and innovation, and opens broad horizons for creators and researchers, in a way that enhances the presence of the Arabic language and keeps pace with cultural and creative transformations.
The launch of the fourth session of the award, with nominations open until June 15, 2026, comes within the framework of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s ongoing efforts to consolidate the UAE’s position as a global center for culture and knowledge, and to support the literary movement in the region.
The Center called on writers and those interested in the arts of narrative from various parts of the world to submit their works according to the criteria specified for each category, through the official website, with the need to fulfill the technical and procedural conditions that guarantee the quality of the entries.
The award is an integrated platform that celebrates the arts of narrative in its various forms, starting from folk tales and oral narration, to short stories and visual narration, in confirmation of the comprehensiveness of this art and its extension over time.
The award is based on a long cultural heritage, inspired by the poetry of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, who used the vocabulary of narrative and beauty in his poems, indicative of the depth of the relationship between story and language, and between meaning and beauty of expression.
The name “Narrative of Gold” came to reflect this convergence, as the narrative symbolizes the sequence and consistency of the story, while gold indicates value and beauty, in a formulation that combines the artistic and symbolic dimension.
The award is divided into six main categories, including Emirati narratives, narrators, short stories for unpublished narrative works, short stories for published works, visual narratives, and popular narratives.
This diversity reflects the award’s keenness to embrace various forms of narrative expression, whether through literary texts, images, or oral performance, in a way that enhances the presence of this art in the contemporary cultural scene.
The award aims to support popular narratives linked to the Arab conscience, shed light on modern narrative works, in addition to discovering and honoring new talents in this field.
The award also seeks to protect the arts of storytelling from extinction, by connecting new generations to this heritage, and promoting its study as part of cultural identity. It also highlights its interest in visual narration, which documents life in the Emirates and the Arab world through photography and cinema, in harmony with the development of modern tools of expression.
Since its launch, the award has been able to achieve a growing presence at the regional and international levels, attracting entries from 37 countries, which reflects its status as a global platform that celebrates the arts of narrative and contributes to its sustainability in light of the rapid cultural transformations.
“Sard of Gold” continues its role in reviving the art of folktales and enhancing its presence among new generations, in addition to highlighting its role in shaping collective memory and consolidating cultural identity, in line with the UAE’s trends in supporting cultural and creative industries and preserving heritage.
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center implements specific initiatives aimed at supporting the Arabic language and enhancing its presence in various areas of cultural and cognitive life, by launching programs and projects concerned with publishing and translation, encouraging reading, and supporting creative industries related to the language, which contributes to building a sustainable cultural environment.
The Center works to organize international exhibitions and events that attract an elite group of intellectuals and creatives, and provide platforms for dialogue and exchange of experiences, thus enhancing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global center for culture.
The Center is keen to invest in young creative talents, through initiatives aimed at discovering and refining talents, and providing them with the necessary support to engage in the cultural scene, in addition to developing digital Arabic content and keeping pace with technological transformations in the fields of publishing and the knowledge industry.
The “Gold Narrative” award comes within this strategic direction, as one of the effective tools in supporting the Arab narrative and expanding its circle of influence regionally and globally.
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