The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the longlists for the Translation, Contribution to the Development of Nations, and Literary and Art Criticism categories for its 19th edition, selected by the Award’s judging panels and currently under evaluation.

The "Translation" Category

The longlist for the Translation category includes 19 titles from 12 countries: Germany, Italy, Spain, France, Mali, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Iraq, Egypt, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. The books were translated from and into Arabic across four languages: German, English, Spanish, and French.

1. "Tausendundeine Nacht: Das Buch der Liebe" (One Thousand and One Nights: The Book of Love), translated from Arabic to German by Claudia Ott (Germany), published by Verlag C.H. Beck in 2022.

2. "Orosius" by Paulus Orosius, translated from Arabic to English by Marco Di Branco (Italy), published by Pisa University Press in 2024.

3. "El Collar de la Coloma: Sobre L’amor I els Amants" (The Dove's Necklace: Of Love and Lovers) by Ibn Hazm, translated from Arabic to Spanish by Isaac Donoso (Spain), published by Associació d’Amics de La Costera in 2024.

4. "Langage et Théologie chez Abū Bakr Ibn al-ʿArabī" (Nukat al-Maḥṣūl fī ʻilm al-uṣūl – Language and Theology of Abū Bakr Ibn al-ʿArabī) by Ibn al-ʿArabī, translated from Arabic to French by Ilyass Amharar (France), published by Gorgias Press in 2023.

5. "Dalāʾil Al-Iʿjāz: Les indices de l'inimitabilité du Glorieux Coran" (Dalāʾil Al-Iʿjāz – Evidence of Miracles: Signs of the Inimitability of the Glorious Quran) by Abd al-Qāhir al-Jurjānī, translated from Arabic to French by Mohamadou Aboubacar Maiga (Mali), published by Sonçağ Akademi in 2024.

6. "La démocratie universelle: Philosophie d’un modèle politique" (Universal Democracy: Philosophy of a Political Model) by Florent Guénard, translated from French to Arabic by Ahmad Haji Safar (Syria), published by the Arab Organisation for Translation in 2023.

7. "Le démon de la théorie: Littérature et sens commun" (The Demon of Theory: Literature and Common Sense) by Antoine Compagnon, translated from French to Arabic by Hassan Outtaleb (Morocco), published by Dar Alkitab Aljadeed in 2023.

8. "Philosophies du multiculturalisme" (Philosophies of Multiculturalism) by Paul May, translated from French to Arabic by Zouaoui Beghoura (Algeria), published by Al Rawafed Culture Publishers and Ibn al-Nadim Publishing and Distribution in 2024.

9. "Routledge Handbook to Philosophy of Memory" edited by Sven Bernecker and Kourken Michaelian, translated from English to Arabic by Dr Mustafa Samir Abdulraheem (Iraq), published by Al Rawafed Culture Publishers and Ibn al-Nadim Publishing and Distribution in 2023.

10. "The Oxford Handbook of the Cognitive Science of Religion" by Justin Barrett, translated from English to Arabic by Mohamed Sayed Salama (Egypt), published by Al Rawafed Culture Publishers and Ibn al-Nadim Publishing and Distribution in 2024.

11. "Subject of Desire: Hegelian Reflections in Twentieth-Century France" by Judith Butler, translated from English to Arabic by Nour Hariri (Syria/Germany), published by Ninawa Studies Publishing & Distribution in 2024.

12. "Pain: A Cultural History" by Javier Moscoso, translated from Spanish to Arabic by Hosni Mlitat (Palestine), published by Ninawa Studies Publishing & Distribution in 2024.

13. "The Cambridge Dictionary of Psychology" by David Matsumoto, translated from English to Arabic by Luai Khazal Jabr (Iraq), published by The Academic Centre for Research in 2024.

14. "Madrid Islámico" (Islamic Madrid) by Daniel Gil Benumeya, translated from Spanish to Arabic by Khaled Salem (Egypt), published by the National Centre for Translation in 2023.

15. "The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined" by Steven Pinker, translated from English to Arabic by Bander Mohammed Alharbi (Saudi Arabia), published by Page 7 Publishing in 2024.

16. "Understanding Collapse: Ancient History and Modern Myths" by Guy D. Middleton, translated from English to Arabic by Amir Osman (Egypt), published by Namaa for Research & Studies in 2023.

17. "Pour une théorie de la production littéraire" (For a theory of literary production) by Pierre Macherey, translated from French to Arabic by Mohamed El Jorti (Morocco), published by Fadaat for Publishing & Distribution in 2024.

18. "Postdramatisches Theater" (Postdramatic Theatre) by Hans-Thies Lehmann, translated from German to Arabic by Marwa Mahdy Abidou (Egypt), published by the National Centre for Translation in 2023.

19. "Methods of Logic" by Willard Van Orman Quine, translated from English to Arabic by Dr Youssef Tibesse (Morocco), published by Mana Publishing in 2023.

The "Literary and Art Criticism" Category

The longlist for the Literary and Art Criticism category includes 13 titles from six countries: Morocco, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine, and Syria.

1. "Imaginary Narratives in the Arab Novel: From Restriction to Transmission" by Brahim Elgraoui (Morocco), published by the Department of Culture - Government of Sharjah in 2024.

2. "Urbanistic Samarra: A Study of Architecture and Planning of an Abbasid City" by Dr Khaled Alsultany (Iraq), published by Adib Books in 2024.

3. "Correspondence Texts: Origins, Formation, and Reception" by Dr Jamil Ben Ali (Tunisia), published by Zayneb Edition in 2023.

4. "Andalusian Influence on Islamic Architecture and Art in the Maghreb, Egypt, and Istanbul" by Dr Rami Rabie Rashed (Egypt), published by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage in 2024.

5. "Poetry and Prophecy: Abu Tayeb as the Poet-Prophet" by Dr Rita Awad (Palestine), published by the Arab Institute for Research & Publishing in 2024.

6. "Food and Language: Cultural Excavations in Arab Heritage" by Dr Said Laouadi (Morocco), published by Afrique Orient in 2023.

7. "Passions and Emotions in the Arab-Islamic World" by Dr Abdelaziz Chebil (Tunisia), published by Maison Nihed d’Edition et de Distribution in 2024.

8. "Scenes from Fatimid Life in Egypt" by Dr Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim (Egypt), published by Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah in 2024.

9. "Theory and Challenges in Cultural Criticism: Questions and Practices in Arab Literary Discourse" by Dr Mohamed Shahat (Egypt), published by Dar Athar Publishing & Distribution in 2023.

10. "Narrative Minds: An Introduction to Gnostic Storytelling" by Dr Mohamed Salah Bouomrani (Tunisia), published by Masciliana Editions in 2023.

11. "New Insights: From the Edge of Boundaries to the Essence of Being" by Mohamed Bazzi (Morocco), published by Kunouz Al-Ma’refa Publishing and Distribution in 2022.

12. "Nothingness and Consciousness: The Essence of Existence and the Limits of Language" by Munthir Chelloob (Iraq/UK), published by Dar Al-Rafidain in 2022.

13. "Taqi al-Din al-Maqrizi: The Conscience of Egyptian History" by Nasser Rabbat (Syria/USA), published by Turath for Research & Studies in 2024.

The "Contribution to the Development of Nations" Category

The longlist for the Contribution to the Development of Nations category includes eight titles from six countries: Syria, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.

1. "The Philosophy of Recognition and Identity Politics: Criticism of the Cultural Approach to Arab-Islamic Culture" by Housamedden Darwish (Syria/Germany), published by Mominoun Without Borders in 2023.

2. "Ideological Critique in Education and Society" by Prof Dr Hassan Elbilawi (Egypt), published by Al Mahrousa Centre for Publishing, Press Services and Information in 2024.

3. "In the Method: Logic in Scientific and Philosophical Discovery" by Abdelmajid Baakrime (Morocco), published by Dar Al Thaqafa for Publishing & Distribution in 2024.

4. "Education and Sustainable Development: Challenges of Existence and Destiny" by Prof Dr Ali Asaad Watfa (Syria), published by the Authorship, Translation, and Publication Committee - Kuwait University in 2022.

5. "Cities and Trade in Arab and Islamic Civilization" by Prof Dr Majduddin Khemesh (Jordan), published by Dar Alsayel for Publishing & Distribution in 2024.

6. "The Right to Strive: Perspectives on Muslim Women’s Rights" by Prof Dr Mohammed Bechari (UAE), published by Nahdet Misr Publishing in 2024.

7. "Post-Political Islam: A Study of the Political and Cultural Landscape of the Arab World" by Mohammed Mahfood (Saudi Arabia), published by Mominoun Without Borders in 2024.

8. "On Progress: Challenges and Pathways" by Mahmoud Mohieldin (Egypt), published by Dar Elshorouk in 2022.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is an independent award presented to outstanding creative and literary works in various fields such as literature, humanities, arts, and Arabic language. The Award contributes to promoting translation activity, encouraging translators to produce quality literary works with a connection to Arabic culture and civilisation, and establishing dialogue between peoples and nations centred around tolerance, coexistence, and peace.