Sheikh Zayed Book Award Attracts Over 4,000 Submissions From 75 Countries In Its 19th Edition

The 19th Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has received over 4,000 entries from 75 countries. This includes submissions from five new participating nations: Albania, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mali. The award's growing influence is evident in its diverse global reach across cultural and creative fields.

Egypt topped the list of submissions among Arab countries, followed by Iraq, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Jordan, Syria, Tunisia, Lebanon, and the UAE. Among non-Arab nations, the United States led in submissions, with the United Kingdom, France, Spain, India, Germany, Italy, and Canada following closely. This wide participation highlights the award's international appeal.

The Reading Panel for SZBA concluded its review process in early October 2024. Chaired by Dr. Ali bin Tamim, SZBA Secretary-General and ALC Chairman, the panel evaluated entries for their alignment with the award’s values. The longlists for nominated works will be announced by the end of 2024.

The Reading Panel includes Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji of ALC; Prof. Dr. Bilal Orfali from the American University of Beirut; Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al Safrani from Taibah University; and Abdulrahman Al Naqbi from ALC’s Literary Awards Department. They assessed each submission's adherence to the award’s criteria during their meetings.

Dr. bin Tamim stated that "The Sheikh Zayed Book Award continues to experience sustainable growth in quality and calibre of applications submitted." He emphasised its prestige in celebrating cultural creators and thinkers worldwide. The award honours contributions in development, authorship, translation in humanities, enriching cultural life inspired by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Categories and Submission Statistics

The Young Author category was most popular this year with 1,034 submissions or 26% of total entries. Literature followed closely with 1,001 submissions (25%), while Children’s Literature received 439 entries (11%). These figures highlight SZBA's role in nurturing emerging voices across generations.

Other categories include Literary and Art Criticism; Contribution to Development of Nations; Translation; Arab Culture in Other Languages; Editing of Arabic Manuscripts; Publishing and Technologies; Cultural Personality of the Year. Each category reflects SZBA's commitment to fostering literary expression.

Award's Legacy and Cultural Impact

The SZBA embodies Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s legacy in nation-building and development. It underscores Abu Dhabi’s position as a cultural hub promoting tolerance among peoples while advancing global publishing sectors through its support for Arabic language promotion.

By recognising cultural leaders based on scientific criteria annually—thinkers who contribute significantly towards enriching social life—the award builds bridges between civilisations fostering appreciation for knowledge globally without exception or bias towards any particular group or ideology within society today!

With inputs from WAM