The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has opened nominations for its 20th edition, accepting applications from now until 1 September 2025. Coinciding with the 20-year anniversary of the award’s establishment, this special edition reflects its pioneering journey in enriching the cultural and literary landscapes, and strengthens its presence as an international platform supporting intellectual and creative excellence, while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for inter-civilisational dialogue and cultural exchange.
Recognised as one of the most prestigious literary awards in the Arab world, the SZBA accepts submissions across 10 categories: Literature, Translation, Contribution to the Development of Nations, Arab Culture in Other Languages, Children’s Literature, Editing of Arabic Manuscripts, Literary and Art Criticism, Young Author, Cultural Personality of the Year, and Publishing and Technology.
This announcement follows the conclusion of the award’s 19th edition, which received more than 4,000 nominations from 75 countries, including 20 Arab nations. Several countries were participating in the award for the first time, including Albania, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mali, which highlights the award’s growing prominence on the regional and international cultural maps.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “As the Sheikh Zayed Book Award enters its 20th edition, we celebrate its remarkable journey and enduring impact on the global cultural and literary landscape. Its mission is more relevant than ever, to foster dialogue and knowledge, advancing the Arabic language, and championing the exchange of ideas across boundaries. As we look to the future, the award remains a powerful force for shaping minds, enriching lives, and inspiring future generations. In the years to come, the award will continue to reflect the values that lie at the heart of our emirate’s vision.”
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC and Secretary-General of the SZBA, said: “The 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award marks a significant milestone following two decades of uninterrupted cultural work and achievements that have left their mark on the Arab and international literary and intellectual scenes. Under the patronage of our wise leadership, the award has established itself as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange, cementing the power of the written word to shape human civilisation and the future. And today, as we launch this new edition of the award, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting creative minds, preserving the Arabic language, and promoting culture as a cornerstone of comprehensive development.
“We are proud of the tangible impact the award has made on the cultural landscape in its 19 years, during which we received over 30,000 nominations from more than 80 countries and honoured 136 winners across its various categories. These figures are not mere statistics, but a living testament to the growing confidence the award inspires among literary and intellectual circles. They assert the leadership role it plays in advancing authorship, translation, and critical studies, underlining its contributions towards promoting cultural dialogue, in line with the UAE’s vision and mission to support human development.”
Nomination conditions for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award stipulate that each candidate may nominate one work to one category, and the work must not have been nominated for any other prize in the same year, either directly or through a representative. Submitted works should also carry a valid International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to ensure the author’s intellectual property rights are protected.
The award will not be granted to any work that has previously won a major Arab or international prize, however, resubmission is allowed, provided the stipulated time gap has been met and new copies of the work are submitted.
Conditions also allow authors to self-nominate or be nominated by publishers who may submit an application only for works they have issued, on the condition that the publisher receives written consent from the author. Nominated books need to have been published within the last two years at most, and should not have won any major international awards.
Original submitted works should be written in Arabic, with the exception of those submitted under the Editing of Arabic Manuscripts category, which can be in other languages, as well as the Translation category (whether translated into or from Arabic) and the Arab Culture in Other Languages category, where works published in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian are accepted.
For the Cultural Personality of the Year award, candidates must be nominated by academic, research, or cultural institutions; literary bodies and universities; or by three prominent intellectual and/or cultural figures. Nominees for all other categories must personally fill out the nomination forms on the SZBA official website.
Since its initial launch in 2006, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has served as a prominent international platform for creativity, promoting Arab publishing, and fostering inter-civilisational dialogue, drawing inspiration from the vision of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The award continues its mission to empower creative minds, fuel intellectual production, and elevate the global standing of the Arabic language, all in line with a strategic vision that reinforces Abu Dhabi’s role as a global hub for cultural dialogue, coexistence, and tolerance.
To submit a nomination to the 20th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, or for more information about the submissions process and forms, visit the official SZBA website (www.zayedaward.ae), which offers up-to-date and comprehensive information in English and Arabic.
