Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2015 call for nominations

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award has announced accepting nominations for its ninth cycle of 2014/2015 starting this month until September 1, 2014. The Award’s executive office now welcomes nominations from creative individuals in any of the Award’s nine categories; Best Contribution to the Development of Nations , Children’s Literature [including adolescents books], Young Author, Translation, Literature, Literary and Art Criticism, Arabic Culture in Other languages, Publishing and Cultural Technologies, and Cultural Personality of the Year. Commenting on the rollout of the Award’s ninth session, Dr. Ali Bin Tamim, The Secretary General of Sheikh Zayed Book Award, said: “We announce the opening our new cycle with appreciation for what were able to achieve over the past 9 years. And we hope this session to be yet another step forward towards the objectives we thrive to achieve”. Saeed Hamdan, Award Manager, elaborated on the nominations process and the general terms applicable. For cultural personality of the year award, applicants should be nominated by academic, research and cultural institutions, by literary associations and universities or by three intellectually and culturally prominent figures. For the other eight categories, applicants are requested to fill in the Nomination Form in person. Applicants can collect their application from the Administrative Offices of the Award or they can download it online from the Award’s websitewww.zayedaward.ae. Once completed and signed, the application forms should be submitted to the Sheikh Zayed Book Award Offices along with the Candidate's Resume, Passport copy, Personal photo, and five copies of the nominated work in a book format - works nominated for the Award of “Publishing and Cultural Technologies” can be in digital format. All nominated works must have been published in the last two years and shouldn’t be previously awarded by an international Prize. The work must be written in Arabic, except for works nominated for the Translation Award (they could be translated either from or to Arabic), and the works nominated for the 2 year old category for “Arabic Culture in Other Languages” which  can be in English, Spanish or Japanese for the ninth session. Over the past eight years the Award has recognized the creative literary and cultural achievements of more than 60 individuals and entities, on top of which is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah; UNESCO and Paju Book City; Orientalist Chung Jikun; Writer and critic Marina Warner from United Kingdom and many more. The Sheikh Zayed Book Award's first installment was in 2007, intended to promote scholarship and creativity in Arab culture. It carries cash prizes totaling Dhs7 million - with Dh750,000 per winner (equivalent to USD 204,217,50)  in all eight categories (including the Arab Culture in non- Arabic languages category). The winners also receive a certificate of merit and a Gold Medal. The winner of the Personality of the Year prize is 1 million Dirhams. The Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s winners over the past sessions are: 2014 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year - Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Best contribution to the development of the country – Sa’ad Abdullah Al Soyan from Saudi Arabia Literature – Abdul Rasheed Mahmoudi from Egypt Children’s Literature – Jawdat Fakhr ElDine from Lebanon Translation – Mohammad Al Mansouri from Tunisia Arabic Culture in Other Languages – Mario Liverani from Italy Young Author – Rami Abu Shihab from Jordan Publishing and Cultural Technology – Bayt Al Hikma from Tunisia 2013 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year – HE Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Mohammd Al Tayyeb, Grand Sheikh of the Al Azhar in Egypt Best contribution to the development of the country – Elizabeth Susan Kassab from Lebanon Literary Art and Criticism – Abdullah Ibrahim from Iraq Literature – Withheld Children’s Literature – Withheld Translation – Fathi  Meskini from Tunisia Arabic Culture in Other Languages – Marina Warner from UK Young Author – Adil Hadjami from Morocco Publishing and Cultural Technology – National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature, Kuwait 2012 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO Best contribution to the development of the country – Withheld Fine Arts – Dr. Shaker Abdel-Hamid from Egypt Literature – Withheld Children’s Literature – Abdo Wazen from Lebanon Translation – Abu Yarub Al Marzouqi from Tunisia Best Technology in the Field of Culture – Paju Bookcity Young Author – Layla Al Obaidali from Tunisia Publishing and Distribution – Brill” Publishing House 2011 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year – Xhong Jikun from China Best contribution to the development of the country – Dr. Abdul Raouf Sinno from Lebanon Literature – Dr. Mohammad Muftah from Morocco Translation - Dr.Mohammad Ziyad Kebbe from Syria Children’s Literature – Dr. Afaf Tobbala from Egypt Publishing – withheld Fine Arts – withheld Young Author – withheld Best Technology in Culture - Withheld 2010 Winners Cultural Personality of the year - HH Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al-Qasimi Best Contribution to the Development of the Nation - Ammar Ali Hasan from Egypt Young Author - Dr. Mohammad Al Mallakh from Morocco Translation - Dr. Albert Habib Mutlaq from Lebanon Fine Arts - Dr. Iyad Al Husseini from Iraq Literature - withdrawn Children’s literature - Qais Sedki from UAE Publishing - Nahdet Misr Publishing House Best Technology in Culture - Withheld 2009 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year – Prof. Pedro Martinez Montavez Literature – Novelist Jamal Al Ghitany of Egypt Children’s Literature – Withheld Translation - Dr. Saad Masslouh of Egypt Young Author – Dr Youcef Oughlici of Algeria Fine Arts – Cinematographer Maher Rady of Egypt Publishing & Distribution – Egyptian-Lebanses House Development of the Country – Dr. Baqer Al najjar of Bahrain Best Technology in Culture - Withheld 2008 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year – Former Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohammed Benaissa Literature – Novelist Ibrahim al-Kouni Children’s Literature – Novelist Huda al Shawa Translation - Dr. Faiz Assayagh Young Author – Dr Mohamed Saadi Fine Arts – Architect Rifat Chadirji Publishing & Distribution – Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies & Research Development of the Country – Withheld Best Technology in Culture - Withheld 2007 Winners Cultural Personality of the Year – Denys Johnson- Davies Literature – Novelist Wacini Laredj Children’s Literature – Dr. Mohammed Ali Ahmed Translation – Dr. Georges Zainaty Young Author – Dr. Mahmoud Zein Al-Abedeen Fine Arts – Dr. Tharwat Ukasha Publishing & Distribution - Withheld Development of the Country - Dr. Basheer Mohamed Al-Khadra Best Technology in Culture – Withheld