Sheikh Zayed Book Award celebrates two decades of literary success
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has received over 4,000 submissions from 74 countries for its 2025-2026 edition, as it marks its 20th anniversary. Entries came from 21 Arab countries, along with 53 other nations around the world, with Chile, Iceland, and Luxembourg participating for the first time.
The Award’s Reading Panel held multiple meetings chaired by His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Secretary General of SZBA and Chairman of the ALC, to review submissions across the Award’s various categories, assessing each entry for compliance with the established criteria. This critical step comes in preparation for announcing the longlists at the end of 2025.
The members of the Reading Panel are Dr. Muhammad Abu al Fadl Badran, poet, writer and academic; Dr. Bilal Orfali, writer, researcher, and Professor of the Sheikh Zayed Chair in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the American University of Beirut; and Mohamed Abu Zeid, author and researcher. The meetings were also attended by Abdulrahman Al Naqbi, Director of the ALC's Literary Awards Department.
H.E. Dr. bin Tamim said, “The 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award marks a significant milestone in a journey of enduring cultural and intellectual contributions. Over the years, the Award has firmly established itself as both an Arab and international, celebrating creativity and strengthening the presence of literature, thought, and research across diverse fields of knowledge. Since its inception, the Award has reflected the cultural vision of the UAE, inspired by the legacy of the nation’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who considered culture and artistic expression as cornerstones of human development and a bridge for dialogue and communication between societies.
“For 20 years, the Award has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting Arabic literature and highlighting its role in the global cultural landscape. It encourages creativity in writing, translation, and research, and honours intellectual figures who have enriched human understanding. As the Award enters its third decade, it remains dedicated to building a sustainable cultural future, reflecting the UAE’s position as a hub of creativity and a pioneering environment that celebrates the written word. We believe in the power of culture to shape the future,” H.E. bin Tamim continued.
This year’s submissions recorded significant growth compared to the previous cycle, reflecting the growing stature of the Award and its role in supporting literary and intellectual talent worldwide. The Literature category topped the list with 1,117 submissions, followed by Young Author with 892, Children’s Literature with 509, and Literary and Art Criticism with 479 submissions. These were followed by the categories of 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 current edition recorded a 12% increase in female participation compared to last year, highlighting the growing presence of women authors and scholars in the Arab cultural scene. Submissions from cultural and research institutions rose by 80%, while international participation from non-Arab countries increased by 16%.
Egypt led the list of countries with the highest number of submissions, followed by Morocco, Iraq, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Algeria, Tunisia, Lebanon, the UAE, and Oman. Among non-Arab countries, the United States, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Spain, Germany, India, Canada, Sweden, and Australia had the highest number of submissions.
Over the past two decades, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has cemented its status as a prominent global platform for knowledge, celebrating creativity and innovative minds. Since its inception, the Award has received more than 33,000 submissions from nearly 80 countries and recognised 136 laureates across its 10 categories.
Meanwhile, the Translation Grant, which was launched in 2018, continues to support the translation of Arabic literature into various world languages, enabling it to expand its creative horizons. This underscores the UAE’s commitment to continuing the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed in culture as a bridge for human dialogue and a source of inspiration for the future.
In the coming months, the Award’s longlists will be announced, followed by the judging phase across the 10 categories of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award. The 20th edition will conclude with the announcement of the winners – an event eagerly awaited by a wide audience of writers and readers around the world, further demonstrating the Award’s prestige, transparency, and pioneering role in honouring intellectuals, creators, and publishers.