20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award announces longlists for Translation, Literary and Art Criticism, and Contribution to the Development of Nations categories
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has unveiled the longlisted works for the Translation, Contribution to the Development of Nations, and Literary and Art Criticism categories for its 20th edition (2025-2026). The lists were announced as the judging committees began the evaluation of all longlisted entries.
Organised by the ALC, the 20th edition of the award received over 4,000 submissions from 74 countries, including 21 Arab nations and 53 other countries from around the world. The highest number of submissions was recorded in the Literature category, followed by Young Author and Children’s Literature. Next in the ranking were the Literary and Art Criticism, Contribution to the Development of Nations, Translation, Arab Culture in Other Languages, Editing of Arabic Manuscripts, Publishing and Technology, and Cultural Personality of the Year.
The Translation Category
The longlist for the Translation category includes nine titles translated to and from Arabic across four languages: English, Italian, Spanish, and French. Translators represent eight countries: the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Iraq, Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Syria.
1. “Contrariness in Classical Arabic Literature: Beautifying the Ugly and Uglifying the Beautiful” by Abu Mansur al-Tha’alibi, translated from Arabic to English by Geert Jan Van Gelder (Netherlands), published by Brill in 2024.
2. “A Demon Spirit: Arabic Hunting Poems” by Abu Nuwas, translated from Arabic to English by James E. Montgomery (United Kingdom), published by Library of Arabic Literature/New York University Press in 2024.
3. “Smorgasbords of Andalusi and Maghribi Dishes and Their Salutary Benefits” by Nawal Nasrallah (Iraq/USA), a translation from Arabic to English of the 13th century cookbook (Anwāʿ al-Ṣaydala fī Alwān al-Aṭʿima), published by Brill in 2025.
4. “La dottrina dell’anima di ’Abu Sulayman al-Sigistani negli scritti di ’Abu Hayyan al-Tawhidi” by Abu Hayyan al Tawhidi, translated from Arabic to Italian by Sara Abram (Italy), published by Il Poligrafo Casa Editrice in 2024.
5. “Historia de las Indias” (History of the Indies) by Bartolomé de las Casas, translated from Spanish to Arabic by Dr. Chaimaa Majdy (Egypt), published by Elmasry Publishing in 2024.
6. “Victor Hugo et l’Islam” (Victor Hugo and Islam) by Louis Blin, translated from French to Arabic by Zahida Darwiche Jabbour (Lebanon), published by Arab Organization for Translation in 2025.
7. “Traité de L’Argumentation” (The New Rhetoric: A Treatise on Argumentation) by Chaïm Perelman et Lucie Olbrechts-Tytetca, translated from French to Arabic by Dr. Mohamed El Ouali (Morocco), published by Dar Alkitab Aljadeed in 2023.
8. “Imaginal Worlds: Ibn al-Arabi and the Problem of Religious Diversity” by William C. Chittick, translated from English to Arabic by Prof. Dr. Eisa Ali Alakoub (Syria), published by Ninawa Publishing House in 2025.
9. “Word and Object” by Willard Van Orman Quine, translated from English to Arabic by Dr. Youssef Tibesse (Morocco), published by Al Rawafed Culture Publishers and Ibn al Nadim Publishing and Distribution in 2025.
The Contribution to the Development of Nations Category
Six titles were selected for the Contribution to the Development of Nations category’s longlist, submitted from four Arab countries: Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, and Egypt. The longlisted works address intellectual and knowledge-related issues intersecting with development and the concept of the modern state.
1. (History of Arabic Journalistic Writing: From Eloquence to Journalism to Algorithmic Writing) by Dr. Sahraoui Gamaoun (Tunisia), published by Latrach Édition in 2025.
2. (The Identities Trap) by Hassane Aourid (Morocco), published by Hachette Antoine Naufal Edition and El Fadel in 2025.
3. (Iraq’s Intelligentsia: Cultural Elites in the 20th Century) by Sayyar Al-Jamil (Iraq/Canada), published by The Academic Center for Research in 2025.
4. (The Debate on Religion and Enlightenment: Paths for Rationalisation and Prospects of Humanisation) by Salah Salem (Egypt), published by Bibliotheca Alexandrina in 2025.
5. (On the Possibility and Limits of Communication in Light of Epistemic Principles and the Philosophy of Action) by Dr. Mohamed Ghalim (Morocco), published by Dar Rakeem Publishing in 2024.
6. (Constitution of Medina: A Marginalised Islam) by Nejia Ourimi (Tunisia), published by Roueya Publishing in 2025.
The Literary and Art Criticism Category
The longlist for the Literary and Art Criticism category features 10 titles from eight countries: Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates. The selected works cover a range of topics from literary criticism to philosophy, theatre arts, and identity studies.
1. (Jurisprudence of Theatre: Issues of Thought and Performing Arts) by Prof. Dr. Aboulhassan Sallam (Egypt), published by Dar Alwafaa Publishing in 2025.
2. (News and Eyewitness Accounts: Towards a New Conception of Perspective and Point of View in the Storytelling Arts) by Dr. Ahmed Gasmi (Tunisia), published by Latrach Édition in 2024.
3. (Monument Sculpture in the Arab World: Limits of Figuration in Public Space) by Benyounes Amirouche (Morocco), published by Khatout and Zilal Publishing and Distribution House in 2024.
4. (Andalusian Identity in Poetic Texts) by Khalid Abdulaziz Alkhrran (Saudi Arabia), published by Adab Publishing and Distribution in 2023.
5. (Metaphor: A Study of Construction Issues and Mechanisms of Interpretation) by Dr. Brahim Assikar (Morocco), published by Kunouz Al-Ma’refa Publishing and Distribution in 2023.
6. (Emotions in the Sufi Experience: Between Regression and Rebellion) by Dr. Asma Khoualdia (Tunisia), published by Editions Difaf, Editions El Ikhtilef, Sameh Publishing in 2025.
7. (Shores of the Text: Epigraphs in the Arabic Novel – Types, Functions, and Operating Mechanisms) by Dr. Walat Mohamad (Syria/Germany), published by Lotus Free Publishing in 2024.
8. (Foundations of the Arabic Linguistic Theory) by Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki (Lebanon), published by American University of Beirut Press in 2025.
9. (Perceiving the World: Mutual Stereotypes Between the Self and the Other) by Zuhair Tawfiq (Jordan), published by Alaan Publishers and Distributers in 2025.
10. (The Aesthetics of Rhetorical Creativity: A Pragmatic Reading in the Speeches of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan) by Dr. Aysha Juma Alshamsi (UAE), published by Mohamed Bin Zayed University for Humanities in 2025.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre with the support of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), reaffirms its position as one of the most prominent literary and intellectual awards in the Arab world. The award continues to strengthen cultural activity and support translation, authorship, and creativity; it honours creative minds who build bridges between cultures, embodying the UAE’s vision of tolerance, enlightenment, and peace.