Sard Al Thahab Award Reports Significant 68% Growth In International Participation For Third Edition

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) recently convened the Reading Committee for the Sard Al Thahab Award to evaluate nominations for its third edition. This meeting aimed to ensure that submitted works met the Award's criteria and standards. The event highlighted a 68% increase in participating countries since the first edition, showcasing growing interest in narrative and folk heritage arts both locally and globally.

Dr. Abdulla Majid Al Ali, Director-General of the National Library and Archives, chaired the meeting. He was joined by committee members including screenwriter Mohammed Hassan Ahmed, writer-researcher Reem Al Kamali, and writer-researcher Walid Alaa Eldin. Their collective expertise guided the evaluation process.

This year, 37 countries participated in the Sard Al Thahab Award, up from 22 in its inaugural edition. New participants included Albania, Austria, Chad, Denmark, Italy, and Japan. These nations brought their rich cultures and diverse folk heritage to the competition, enhancing its global cultural significance.

The participation of these countries underscores the Award's expanding international reach. It also highlights its role in enriching folk and narrative arts on a global scale. The diversity of submissions reflects a commitment to preserving cultural narratives through literature and storytelling.

The third edition saw significant entries across six categories. The Short Story for Unpublished Stories category received the most submissions, offering nominees a platform to showcase creativity. The Short Story for Published Stories category followed closely, aiming to reimagine folk heritage innovatively.

In the Illustrated Story category, photographers and filmmakers presented inventive works that bridged literature with imagery. Meanwhile, strong participation in the Popular Narratives category affirmed the Award’s success in spotlighting folk narratives and related studies.

Honouring Folk Narrators

The Narrators category reflected ALC’s dedication to honouring narrators who preserve folk heritage across generations. The Emirati Narration category emphasized strengthening Emirati identity while promoting UAE values through storytelling.

Egypt led Arab countries in submission numbers, followed by Morocco, Iraq, Algeria, Syria, and the United Arab Emirates. This trend indicates a strong desire among creatives from these nations to highlight their rich histories and cultural diversity through narrative arts.

A Platform for Global Literary Talent

"The Sard Al Thahab Award allows us to showcase literary talents from around the world," said H.E. Dr Abdulla Majid Al Ali. "Just like previous editions which recognised authors from various countries across six categories." This statement reflects ALC's commitment to promoting creative talent globally.

The Award aims to honour works that enrich Arab libraries with narratives inspired by folk heritage. These stories reflect past life aspects while tracing community evolution worldwide. Such initiatives contribute significantly to preserving cultural narratives for future generations.

Launched by ALC, this award honours folk narrators while reviving storytelling art among new generations in UAE and beyond. As it nears announcing shortlists for its third edition, it continues gaining recognition as an esteemed platform for literary exchange across continents.

With inputs from WAM