The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is now open for submissions. The award has a reputation for highlighting the most exciting, and often the most challenging work from and about the Arab world.
Each winner receives prize money of 750,000 UAE dirhams ($204,000 USD) to both recognize and further enable their creative and cultural achievements.
Writers, translators, academics, and publishers from around the world are awarded for their exceptional contributions to advancing Arabic literature and culture.
Winning the award has enabled writers and organizations to expand and develop their projects, including 2020 winner Banipal magazine, who have put the prize money into funding their network of writers, translators, editors and printers and promoting the magazine to reach new audiences.
Authors, publishers, and translators of any nationality can make submissions, which are welcomed from all countries in Arabic and other languages. To register and submit online, visit the SZBA submissions website register.zayed award.ae.
Submissions are open across nine categories, representing the range and breadth of Arab culture:
- Literature (including both fiction and poetry)
- Young Author (for writers under the age of 40)
- Children’s Literature
- Cultural Personality of the Year
- Publishing and Technology
- Arabic Culture in Other Languages
- Translation – either to or from Arabic
- Literary and Art Criticism
- Contribution to the Development of Nations
More information about individual categories is available on the Sheikh Zayed Book Award website.
