The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is a literary award begun in the UAE.[1] It is presented yearly to "Arab writers, intellectuals, publishers as well as young talent whose writings and translations of humanities have scholarly and objectively enriched Arab cultural, literary and social life."[2] The first award was in 2007. The total value of the prizes is DH 7,000,000 making it one of the richest literary awards in the world.
Often referred to “the Arab World’s Nobel Prize”,[3] the Award presents a range of annual prizes, such as ‘Literature’, ‘Translation’, ‘Arabic Culture in Other Languages’, and ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’.
The "Cultural Person of the Year" is the premier category which honours a prominent Arab or international figure (or organisation) who has contributed to the advancement of Arabic culture. It bestows an award of one million Dirhams (around $300,000) while the other categories receive around $200,000 each.[4]
Beginning with 2013 awards, a new category was added called "Arabic Culture in Other Languages", "to honor best written works in Chinese, German and English languages on the subject of the Arabic civilization and culture including novels, short stories, poems, biographies, history and arts."[5] In addition a number of other categories were merged, created or redefined.[6][7]
In 2018, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award launched a translation grant, to encourage the translation of Arabic literature into other languages.[8] The grant is open year-round to publishers and translators around the world to publish shortlisted or award-winning literary works from the Award’s Literature and Young Author prize categories.
In 2021, German philosopher Jürgen Habermas declined his Zayed Book Award, citing the UAE's political system (a repressive non-democracy).[9][10] A media debate ensued with some German commentators arguing that he should not have renounced the award.[11][12]
Publishing and Distribution: Nahdet Misr Publishing and Printing
Literature: Hafnaoui Baali, Comparative Cultural Criticism- an Introduction (Note: Award withdrawn due to "research methodologies and ethics employed by the author" i.e. plagiarism)[19][20]
Translation: Husserl, Edmund (2011). Afkar Mumahhida li 'ilm al-ẓahiriyyat al-khalis wa lil falsafah al-ẓahiriyyatiyyah أفكار ممهدة لعلم الظاهريات الخالص وللفلسفة الظاهرياتية [Ideas Pertaining to a Pure Phenomenology and to a Phenomenological Philosophy]. Translated by Marzouki, Abu Yaareb. Beirut: Jadawel. ISBN9786144180440.
Young author: Layla Al Obaidi, Al Fakh in Islam ("Humor in Islam")
Children's Literature: Lateefa Buti (Kuwait) for Bila qubba’a (Hatless)
Young Author: (no award)
Contribution to the Development of Nations: Mohammad Chahrour (Syria) for Al Islam wal Insan (Islam and the Human Being)
Translation: Ziad Bou Akl (Lebanon/France) for translation from Arabic to French of Ibn Rushd, Al-Darûrî fî usûl al-fiqh (Averroès: Le Philosophe Et La Loi)
Literature: Abbas Beydoun (Lebanon) for Khareef al Bara’a (The Autumn of Innocence)
Literary and Art Criticism: Said Al Ghanimi (Iraq/Australia) for Fā‘iliyyat al-Khayāl al-Adabī (The Validity of Literary Fiction)
Arab Culture in Other Languages: David Wirmer for Vom Denken der Natur zur Natur des Denkens
Publishing and Technology: Kalimat Group, Sharjah, UAE
^"Major Cultural Award in Arab World Announces Winners." PR Newswire 17 Mar. 2008. Gale Student Resources In Context. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. GALE|A176762249
^"Zayed Book Award announces Spanish scholar Pedro Montavez Cultural Personality of the Year." The Emirates 9 Mar. 2009. General OneFile. Web. 8 Oct. 2012. GALE|A195259752
^"Winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2010." (2010). Middle East (410), 59. ISSN0305-0734
^"Sheikh Zayed Book Award withdraws Literature Award." WAM – United Arab Emirates News Agency, Oct 26, 2010. Article A240530982 Last accessed Oct. 8, 2012
