Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Bin Zayed Celebrates Winners Of Sard Al Thahab Award 2024 For Traditional Storytelling
The Sard Al Thahab Award 2024 ceremony, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, celebrated its winners at Al Dhafra Fort. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, the event honoured storytellers and creators in traditional and illustrated storytelling. Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed presented awards to winners across various categories, recognising their contributions to cultural storytelling.
In the Unpublished Short Stories category, Iraqi writer Yas Al-Fahdawi secured first place with "Rooms with People Running Underneath Them." Sudanese writer Abdulrahman Abbas won for "The Last Storyteller In This Time" in Published Short Stories. Bahraini academic Dr Dheya Abdulla Khamis AlKaabi was recognised for "Bahraini Folk Tales: One Thousand and One Tales" in Popular Narratives.
Iraqi artist Mahmoud Shubber's painting "Antara and Abla" won in the Illustrated Story category. Emirati storyteller Obeid bin Sandal was honoured for his significant role in the cultural movement within the country. American academic Roy Casagranda received recognition for his work on cultural exchange and civilisation communication.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, emphasised the award's importance. He stated, "This award is key to our mission to celebrate creators and support outstanding narrative works, contributing to the vibrancy of our cultural ecosystem." He highlighted storytelling as a vital part of UAE's cultural heritage.
Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, expressed pride in the award's impact. He remarked that it has become an inspiration for storytellers and a platform for celebrating their work. The award received over 1,213 submissions across various categories this year.
A Platform for Cultural Exchange
Ali Obaid Al Hameli, Chairman of the Sard Al Thahab Award Supreme Committee, congratulated this year's winners. He noted that the award reflects Abu Dhabi's leadership in culture and creativity. Inspired by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's vision, it aims to preserve Arab heritage as a guiding principle for future generations.
Launched in 2022 by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, this annual award promotes Arabic culture globally. It honours narrators of biographies, literature, and folk tales while highlighting Emirati storytelling art. The award seeks to revive folk storytelling traditions within a modern artistic context.
The current edition saw participation from 1,213 works across 34 countries, including 19 Arab nations. This marked a 23% increase from its inaugural edition with 983 entries. The growth underscores its role in supporting Arabic language presence and reviving traditional storytelling arts worldwide.
The Sard Al Thahab Award continues to foster appreciation for storytelling as an essential part of Arab culture. By documenting these narratives for future generations, it ensures that wisdom from early ancestors remains alive today through contemporary artistic expressions.
With inputs from WAM
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