International Award For Arabic Children's Literature Invites Global Submissions Until August 2025

The International Award for Arabic Children's Literature, organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and sponsored by E&, is open for submissions until August 31, 2025. Authors, illustrators, and publishers worldwide are encouraged to submit their Arabic works through the award's website. This initiative aims to bolster Arab creativity in children's literature and elevate Arabic books' presence globally.

This award is a key player in advancing Arabic children's literature. It combines quality content with rich language and meaningful messages. Since its launch, it has become a platform for discovering talent and nurturing creativity. It also motivates Arab publishers to create engaging books that reflect the region's cultural nuances while maintaining high artistic standards.

The total prize money is AED 1.2 million, divided among five categories for ages 5-18. Four categories share prizes between authors, illustrators, and publishers. The "Young Adult" category rewards only the author and publisher. Additionally, AED 300,000 supports training programmes for young Arab talents in writing, illustration, and publishing.

This year's categories include "Early Reader" (birth to five years), "Picture Book" (ages 5-9), "Chapter Book" (ages 9-12), and "Young Adult Book" (ages 13-18). A new "Nonfiction" category recognises works that inspire curiosity and critical thinking with realistic content presented innovatively.

Submissions must be original Arabic works published within the last five years without previous awards or copyright infringements. Manuscripts, educational books, series, electronic or audiobooks are not accepted. Entries must come from registered publishing houses; resubmission of previously nominated books is not allowed.

Submission Guidelines

Participants must submit entries via the official website: https://uaebby.org.ae/iaacl. They need to provide a photocopy of the book, mention the applicant's name, and complete all required information in the approved electronic form. The jury can withhold awards or disqualify non-compliant entries.

The winners will be announced at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025 opening ceremony. The event will honour winning works in a celebratory atmosphere attended by writers, publishers, and bookmakers from around the world.

This award underscores ongoing efforts to support Arab children's publishing and highlights the UAE's dedication to promoting Arab children's culture through literature. It plays a crucial role in fostering a generation of readers passionate about the Arabic language.

With inputs from WAM