Abu Dhabi: Submissions for the 19th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), which is run by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), are being accepted until September 1, 2024.
Literature, Translation, Arab Culture in Other Languages, Children’s Literature, Editing of Arabic Manuscripts, Literary and Art Criticism, Young Author, Cultural Personality of the Year, Publishing and Technology are the ten categories in which submissions are being accepted this year for the award.
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC and Secretary-General of the SZBA, said, “We are proud of the continued success of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, as well as of the clear imprint it has left on the cultural scene throughout the past 18 editions. Since its inception, the award has shed light on a range of notable literary works, prominent authors, and creative minds, and the increasing number of submissions we receive each year further solidifies the award’s status in the literary community and among authors of various nationalities.”
He continued by saying that the prize is a trailblazer in advancing writing and translation initiatives and fostering cross-cultural understanding.
Entries for all award categories must be submitted in accordance with a set of guidelines. Each nominee may only submit one piece of work to one of the award’s categories, as long as they haven’t been nominated for any other awards in the same year, either on their own behalf or by the author.
Works that have already won a significant international or Arab prize are not eligible for the SZBA. An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is required for submitted works in order to confirm ownership rights. If the work is still within the two-year period, it may be resubmitted; new copies of the work must be distributed.
Authors can nominate themselves for the honor, and publishing firms can submit nominations for books they have published with the authors’ express approval. At the time of application, all works must have been published within the previous two years and cannot have been the recipient of a significant international award.
Except for works submitted under the categories of Translation (whether translated into or from Arabic), Editing of Arabic Manuscripts, and Arab Culture in Other Languages, which accepts works published in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian, all original submissions must be written in Arabic.
Candidates for the Cultural Personality of the Year award must be nominated by three well-known intellectuals or cultural figures, literary groups and universities, or academic, research, or cultural institutes. The nomination forms on the SZBA website must be completed in person by nominees for all other categories.