The Sheikh Zayed Book Award opens nominations for its twenty-first session
ABU DHABI, 1st May / WAM / The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, organized by the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, announced the opening of nominations for its twenty-first session (2026 – 2027), starting from today, the first of this May, until the first of next September.
The award aims to honor distinguished intellectual and literary achievements, encourage creators and thinkers in the fields of Arab and human culture, enhance the role of literature in development and human building, and enhance the presence of Arab culture on the global scene.
This announcement comes as an extension of the continuous successes achieved by the award over two decades. It has established its position as a global platform for honoring creativity, and in its last session it attracted more than 4,000 participants from 74 countries, an indicator that reflects growing international confidence in its role as a prestigious global platform that supports intellectual and literary production, and enhances Abu Dhabi’s position as a center for creativity and knowledge.
The award receives entries in ten main branches, including: literature, translation, development and state building, Arab culture in other languages, children’s and young adult literature, manuscripts, encyclopedias and dictionaries, arts and critical studies, young authors, publishing and cultural technologies, in addition to the “Cultural Personality of the Year”, which is awarded to a prominent legal or natural personality, at the Arab or international level, who clearly contributes to enriching Arab culture in terms of creativity or thought, provided that his works or activities embody values. Authenticity, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
The award approved the submission of electronic copies in PDF format of the works nominated for its twenty-first session, and the acceptance of digital entries, exceptionally for this session, to ensure the smoothness of the evaluation process in accordance with the highest standards of efficiency and speed.
The application platform has witnessed development aimed at facilitating participation procedures and expanding access, thus enhancing the efficiency of receiving applications and keeping pace with the digital transformation in the management of cultural initiatives.
The award adopts scientific and objective standards that guarantee equal opportunities among participants. The candidate has the right to submit only one work within one of the award branches, provided that the work has not been submitted for any other award during the same year, and that it has an approved international numbering (ISBN), and that it has not won a previous award.
Authors can submit their nominations directly or through publishing houses, provided that the works have been published within the past two years, and have not won prominent international awards, and that the original works are written in the Arabic language, with the exception of branches that accept works in other languages, including the branch of Arabic translation and culture in other languages, and manuscripts, encyclopedias, and dictionaries, in accordance with the regulations approved for each branch.
As for the “Cultural Personality of the Year” award: It is required that nominations be made by academic, cultural, or research institutions, literary bodies and universities, or by three prominent intellectual figures, while applicants for the remaining branches must complete the nomination procedures via the award’s electronic platform.
The award, which was established in 2006, continues to play its vital role in supporting cultural and creative industries, based on the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, in consolidating the status of culture as a basic pillar of development and a bridge for civilizational dialogue, in line with national visions aimed at building a sustainable knowledge economy and enhancing the soft power of the UAE at the global level.
It is noteworthy that the total value of the award amounts to 7 million and 750 thousand dirhams, awarded to the winners in its various branches. The winner of each of the nine branches receives 750,000 dirhams, while the “Cultural Personality of the Year” award is awarded one million dirhams, in addition to a gold medal and a certificate of appreciation for each winner in the various branches.
The winners will be honored during an official ceremony held in conjunction with the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award invited writers, thinkers, publishers, and cultural and academic institutions to submit their nominations via the website designated for nomination. Candidates can communicate directly with the award team for any inquiries about the nomination conditions and mechanism via email: info@zayedaward.ae.
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