Deadline for Sheikh Zayed Book Award draws closer

Organisers of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award say they are encouraged by the number of entries this year as the deadline draws nearer.

ABU DHABI // Sheikh Zayed Book Award organisers are encouraged by the number of entries received as this year’s deadline draws near.

The closing date for submissions is September 1. After that the reading panels will commence their activities for three days to be followed by the Award’s judging panels work to assess and evaluate the submission across all categories, state news agency Wam reported.

According to Dr Ali bin Tamim, the Award’s secretary general, the Young Author category topped the list of nominations received at 26 per cent, followed by the Literature Category with 22 per cent.

The Literary and Art Criticism category had 12 per cent of the nominations, and the Children’s Literature category 11 per cent.

“We thrive to honour intellectuals, researchers, writers and translators, both young and seasoned, who have made significant contributions in literature, social sciences and the culture and knowledge of modern age from all over the world,” Dr Tamim said. “We take it as our duty to introduce new talents to the Arab readers and encourage the creativity of youth.”

The total prize money on offer is Dh7 million.