Female writers dominate this year’s shortlist for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, with seven of the nine titles in the running written by women.
Three works are competing in each of the award's three categories. The works are from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Tunisia, Palestine, Lebanon and Egypt.
They were selected from 14 entries on the Young Author longlist, 13 on the Children’s Literature longlist and 12 on the Literature longlist.
Literature Shortlist
‘Aan Ta’ashaq Al Hayat’
Aan Ta'ashaq Al Hayat (To Love Life) is Lebanese author Alawiya Sobh's exploration of a neurological disease she suffered from for four years. Through her protagonist, a dancer by the name of Basma, the author tackles themes of physical and psychological trauma in a work of fiction that is hauntingly ensconced in the corporeal. The novel was published by Dar Al Adab in 2020.
‘Ghorfat Al Mosafreen’
Written by Egyptian novelist, Ezzat El Kamhawi, Ghorfat Al Mosafreen (The Passengers' Room) is a travel journal, a philosophical treatise and a novel rolled into one. El Kamhawi, who won the Naguib Mahfouz Prize in 2012 for his novel Beit El Deeb, confront questions that many of us ponder on while idling in airport waiting areas, about what we are leaving behind and what the future holds. The book was published by Al Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah last year.
‘Fee Athar Enayat Al Zayyat’
Egyptian writer Iman Mersal's novel Fee Athar Enayat Al Zayyat (In the Footsteps of Enayat Al Zayyat) follows the narrator's efforts to ascertain the reason behind the mysterious suicide of Enayat. The novel – published in 2019 by Al Kotob Khan Library – has been described by Egyptian writer Ahmad Jamal Saadeddine as "a rare experiment in the Arabic language."
The Children’s Literature shortlist
‘Al Ghool wa Nabtat Al Olayq’
Emirati author Naseeba Alozaibi's Al Ghool wa Nabtat Al Olayq (The Ghoul and the Blackberry Plant) is an illustrated work that takes readers across a game of emotions as they follow the life of a misunderstood ogre and an orphaned child. The book may be listed in the children's literature category but adults will find much to glean from in this sad and eventually uplifting tale.
‘Hadyqat Al Zomorrod’
Another personable and enchanting story by Moroccan author Raja Malah, who is most famous for her children's book Ajnihat Taerati (Wings of my Plane), Hadyqat Al Zomorrod (The Emerald Garden) explores, through buoyant language and colourful illustrations, the mystical qualities of an emerald garden. The book was published by Dar AlMoualef Publishing and Distribution and Maalem Printing, Publishing and Distribution in 2019.
‘Rehlat Fannan’
Rehlat Fannan (An Artist's Journey) by Tunisian author Mizouni Bannani might be a children's book but it has some topical and pertinent themes related to immigration and the role of an artist in society. The book, published by Dar Al Mua'nasa Publishing in 2020, highlights the importance of practicing the arts to hone empathy and a functional society.
Young Author shortlist
‘Laylat Yalda’
Laylat Yalda (The Night of Yalda) by Egyptian novelist Ghada Al Absi is work of fiction built upon the story and works of the great Persian poet Hafez al-Shirazi. A novel unbounded by time, Laylat Yalda follows al-Shirazi as he meets several important regional poets including Rumi, Ibn Arabi and Ibn Al Farid. The work was published by Dar Al Tanweer in 2018.
‘Ma Tarkto Khalfy’
A heart-rending tale told in fluid journal-like narration. Palestinian novelist Shatha Mustafa's Ma Tarkto Khalfy (What I left Behind) unpacks the divided Palestinian identity as its protagonist travels between Palestine, Lebanon, Sweden and the Philippines. The novel was published by Nofal/Hachette Antoine in 2020.
‘Eshkalyat Al Thaat Al Saredah Fee Al Rwayah Al Nesaayah Al Saudiah’
This entry in the Young Author shortlist is not a novel but a study of literary criticism. In Eshkalyat Al Thaat Al Saredah Fee Al Rwayah Al Nesaayah Al Saudiah (The Problems of the Narrated Self in the Saudi Feminist Novel) Saudi researcher Dr Asma Muqbil Awad Alahmadi examines novels written in Saudi Arabia between 1999 and 2012, highlighting the rise of the female novel during this time period and exploring the themes the works express. The study also enumerates the challenges and difficulties female authors face on an artistic, literary and social level. The 800-page work was published by the Arab Scientific Publishers Inc. in 2020.
Rise in submissions
There was a significant rise in submissions this year in all three categories.
The Young Author category received 646 submissions, an increase of approximately 30 per cent since 2020's award, while the Literature category saw an increase of 33 per cent in the number of nominations, bringing this year's number to 584. The Children's Literature category received 244 entries, an increase of approximately 19 per cent.
The winners will be announced during a virtual ceremony in May, where the recipient of the Cultural Personality of the Year accolade will accept a gold medal and a certificate of merit, as well as a prize of Dh1 million.
Winners of other categories will receive a gold medal, a certificate of merit and Dh750,000 each.
The shortlists for the remaining categories will be announced in the coming weeks.
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
if you go
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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Director: Ismael Ferroukhi
Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani
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Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
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Lightweight 60kg
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Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
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Breast cancer in men: the facts
1) Breast cancer is men is rare but can develop rapidly. It usually occurs in those over the ages of 60, but can occasionally affect younger men.
2) Symptoms can include a lump, discharge, swollen glands or a rash.
3) People with a history of cancer in the family can be more susceptible.
4) Treatments include surgery and chemotherapy but early diagnosis is the key.
5) Anyone concerned is urged to contact their doctor
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The biog
Favourite colour: Brown
Favourite Movie: Resident Evil
Hobbies: Painting, Cooking, Imitating Voices
Favourite food: Pizza
Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
