"The Sheikh Zayed Book Award commemorates the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and his pioneering role in promoting national unity and development. Since 2006 the award has brought recognition, reward and readership to outstanding work by authors, translators, publishers, and organisations worldwide.
The award not only recognises major literary and cultural achievements, but also aims to boost the publishing industry. In 2018, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award launched Translation Grants to support translation, publishing and the global distribution of Arabic literature.
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre is one of the world’s most prestigious literary prizes dedicated to advancing Arabic literature and culture.
The award is an independent cultural initiative administered by the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi.
Key Dates
October 2022
Phase 1 evaluation of books (reading panel)
November 2022
Announcement of Longlists
November 2022-January 2023
Phase 2 evaluation of books (panel of Judges)
February 2023
Phase 3 evaluation of books (Scientific Committee reviews judges’ reports)
March 2023
Announcement of shortlists
March 2023-April 2023
Phase 4 evaluation of books (Board of Trustees meets to approve winners)
April 2023
Announcement of winners
May 2023
Award Presentation Ceremony
Sheikh Zayed Award 2022 Book Winners
Dr. Abdullah Al-GhathamiKingdom of Saudi Arabia
Professor of Literature Theory and Criticism at King Saud University in Riyadh
Dr. Ahmed AladawiEgypt
Assistant Professor at the Department of Islamic Sciences, Faculty of Theology, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi (ÇOMÜ).
Dr. Mohamed Al-MaztouriTunisia
Assistant Professor of Arabic Literature at the College of Arts and Humanities, Al Qasimia University in Sharjah.
Dr. Muhsin Al-MusawiIraq/United States
Faculty member at the University of Columbia
New York, as Professor of Arabic Studies and
Comparative Literature
Maisoon SaqerUnited Arab Emirates
Poet, novelist and artist who has published several collections of poetry in classical Arabic and has previously won the C.P. Cavafy International Prize for Poetry.
Maria DadouchSyria
Children’s author and screenwriter based between the United States and Syria.
Mohamed AldahiMorocco
Professor in the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at Mohammed V University in Rabat.
