Under the patronage of Mohammed bin Zayed, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has announced the winners of its 20th edition, celebrating the contributions of creators from various countries. This event serves as an opportunity to honor literary and intellectual works that reflect the development of Arab culture on the international stage, reinforcing the award’s significance as a leading platform to highlight Arab creativity.
Celebrating Arab Creators
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has announced the winners of its twentieth edition for 2025–2026. This announcement underscores the continuity of the award, which was established in 2006, emphasizing its role in supporting Arab culture and enhancing its presence in international forums. The winners were selected following a meeting of the Board of Trustees, which reviewed the final results and the reasons for each nominee’s success, based on precise and transparent criteria.
Winners from Diverse Cultures
The twentieth edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award witnessed a record number of nominees, with the winners list featuring eight creators from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Germany, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates. This diversity reflects the award’s mission to promote cultural and intellectual dialogue under a unified banner of Arab creativity.
Honoring Outstanding Works
In the literature category, the award was granted to Egyptian author Ashraf Al-Ashmawi for his novel “Births in the Zoo,” which offers a contemporary human perspective on the experiences of Egyptians. Additionally, the Young Author Award was given to Moroccan researcher Mustafa Rajwan for his work “Plots and Characters,” which explores the interplay between rhetoric and modern literature. Meanwhile, Iraqi translator Nawal Nasrallah received the translation award in recognition of her efforts in introducing an important heritage text into the English language.
Awarding Cultural Legacy
Egyptian artist Nagat Al-Saghira was honored with the title of Cultural Personality of the Year for her contributions to reflecting the depth of Arab artistic heritage. This recognition highlights the dedication and ongoing efforts of the United Arab Emirates to support creativity and knowledge, allowing our culture to engage with various worlds. During a ceremony that will be held later, the winners will receive medals and certificates of appreciation, underscoring the strong commitment to enhancing the cultural movement.
We look forward to a celebratory program in 2026 marking two decades since the launch of the award, which will address its legacy, developments, and impact on promoting Arabic literature globally. The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, with its journey spanning two decades, continues to be one of the most prominent cultural prizes supporting creativity and contributing to the global dissemination of Arab culture.