Sheikh Zayed Book Award Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Over 4000 Submissions From 74 Countries

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) has received over 4,000 entries from 74 nations for its 2025-2026 edition, marking its 20th anniversary. Submissions came from 21 Arab countries and 53 other nations, with Chile, Iceland, and Luxembourg joining for the first time. This year’s entries show a notable increase compared to previous cycles.

Egypt topped the list of countries with the most submissions, followed by Morocco, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, the UAE, and Oman. Among non-Arab nations, the United States led in submissions alongside France, Italy, the UK, Spain, Germany, India, Canada, Sweden, and Australia.

The Literature category saw the highest number of entries at 1,117. It was followed by Young Author with 892 submissions. Children’s Literature attracted 509 entries while Literary and Art Criticism received 479. Other categories included Contribution to the Development of Nations and Translation.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim chairs the Reading Panel meetings as Secretary-General of SZBA and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC). The panel reviews submissions across various categories to ensure they meet established criteria before announcing longlists.

This edition recorded a 12% rise in female participation compared to last year. This highlights an increasing presence of women authors in Arab culture. Submissions from cultural and research institutions also rose by 80%, while international participation from non-Arab countries increased by 16%.

The Reading Panel includes Dr. Muhammad Abu al Fadl Badran—a poet and academic; Dr. Bilal Orfali—a writer and Professor at American University of Beirut; and Mohamed Abu Zeid—an author and researcher. Abdulrahman Al Naqbi from ALC’s Literary Awards Department also attended these meetings.

Global Cultural Impact

The Translation Grant launched in 2018 continues to support translating Arabic literature into various languages worldwide. This effort reflects UAE's dedication to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan's legacy who believed culture bridges human dialogue.

Dr. bin Tamim stated that "The 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award marks a significant milestone in a journey of enduring cultural and intellectual contributions." He emphasised that it celebrates creativity while strengthening literature's presence globally.

Award's Future Outlook

As it enters its third decade, SZBA remains committed to fostering a sustainable cultural future reflecting UAE’s role as a creativity hub celebrating written works. "We believe in the power of culture to shape the future," added Dr. bin Tamim.

In upcoming months longlists will be announced followed by judging phases across ten categories concluding with winners' announcement eagerly awaited by global writers and readers alike.

Since inception SZBA has received over 33,000 submissions from nearly 80 countries honouring 136 laureates across ten categories showcasing its broad influence on literature worldwide.

With inputs from WAM