ALC Invites Nominations For The Third Sard Al Thahab Award Celebrating Storytelling Arts

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the opening of nominations for the third Sard Al Thahab (Golden Narrative) Award. Submissions are accepted until 31st May 2025. This award, inspired by the UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, celebrates narrators of biographies and folk tales. It aims to support storytelling arts and revive folk narration among younger generations in the UAE and the Arab world.

The award emphasises the cultural importance of storytelling while preserving heritage and narrative traditions. Since its inception in 2023, it has seen significant growth. The previous edition attracted 1,213 nominations from 34 countries, including 19 Arab nations, marking a 23 percent increase from its first year.

Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, expressed optimism about strong participation in this edition. He stated that the award has become a leading platform for folk, visual, and storytelling arts. "Narrative arts, short stories, and folk tales serve as powerful tools for preserving heritage and embedding it in collective memory," bin Tamim said.

The Sard Al Thahab Award includes six categories. These are Short Story for Unpublished Stories, Short Story for Published Stories, Popular Narratives, Narrators, Illustrated Story, and Emirati Narration. Each category highlights different aspects of storytelling and cultural preservation.

Submissions must be in Arabic except for the Emirati Narration category which accepts works in other languages. Participants can submit one entry per cycle if it hasn't won another award that year. The award is open to individuals and institutions with specific requirements for some categories.

Submission Process and Requirements

Applicants can submit entries via the ALC website or email at [email protected]. Submissions should include five copies of the nominated work, a CV detailing academic and creative achievements, a copy of the applicant’s passport, and a personal photograph.

The selection process involves multiple review stages before announcing winners. The total annual prize pool is AED2 million. Nominations for the Emirati Narration category require endorsement from academic or cultural institutions.

The Sard Al Thahab Award reflects a commitment to cultural diversity and innovation in culture and heritage research. It serves as an important initiative to preserve narrative arts within collective memory while fostering new artistic expressions across generations.

With inputs from WAM