The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the shortlists for the third edition of the Sard Al Thahab Award 2025, featuring 14 works from seven countries across three categories: Short Story for Published Stories, Popular Narratives and Short Story for Unpublished Stories.

Chaired by His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Majed Al Ali, Director-General of the UAE National Library and Archives, the award’s Higher Committee approved the shortlisted works following a review of the Judging Panels’ reports by Committee members, namely Emirati researcher and artist Ali Al Abdan Al Shamsi, Syrian author and novelist Taissier Khalaf, Saudi researcher Dr. Asma Muqbel Al Ahmadi, and Moroccan scholar Dr Najima Tai Tai Ghazali, an expert in intangible heritage and oral narratives. The review assessed each entry’s compliance with Sard Al Thahab’s criteria, standards, and objectives, which serve to support the award’s path towards excellence and the advancement of creativity in storytelling.

The shortlist for the Short Story for Published Stories category included four story collections: ‘The Journey to Mount Qaf’ by Moroccan author Mohammed Said Hjiouij, published by Dar Marfaa (2024); ‘Everything You Need to Know about ‘Sh.’’ by Egyptian author Ahmed ElFakhrany, published by Dar El Shorouk (2024); ‘The Time of the Lord of Pearls’ by Kuwaiti author Yousef Theyab Khalifa, published by That Al Salasil Publishing House (2024); and ‘Reclaiming the Butterfly Within’ by Iraqi-Danish author Duna Ghali, published by Sefsafa Publishing (2025).

The Popular Narratives category shortlist also featured four works: ‘Barqa is Far From the Messenger (Love Poetry among Bedouin Women)’ by Egyptian-American author Miral Al Tahawy, published by El-Mahrousa Center (2020); ‘The Saudi Folk Tale Written in Modern Standard Arabic (A Study in Textual Transcendence)’ by Saudi author Manal bint Salem Al Gethami, published by Alintishar Alarabi -The Northern Borders Literary Cultural Club’ (2021); ‘The Biography of King Al-Badarnar ibn Al-Nahrawan as Narrated by Ahmad al-Rabbat al-Halabi’ by Egyptian author Amro Abdelaziz Mounir, published by Brill (2025); ‘Tales from the Oases – Return to the Roots’ by Egyptian author Dr. Sawsan ElSherif, published by Rawafead Publishing & Distribution (2023).

Meanwhile, six story collections were shortlisted for the Short Story for Unpublished Stories category: ‘More Than Forty Lookalikes’ by Egyptian author Mohammad Mansour Mohammad; ‘Dual Tales’ by Egyptian author Sherif Saleh; ‘Bleeding of the Spectres’ by Moroccan author Abdelbar Essoldi; ‘The Well of Absence’ (From the Tales of Water in Omani Myths)’ by Omani author Ghalya Ali; ‘The Tree of Dresses’ by Syrian author Nour Al Moussly; and ‘Voices of the Wilderness’ by Moroccan author Mostapha Mallah.

The shortlists represent a diverse set of countries, including Egypt, Morocco, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria and Iraq.

Launched by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in 2023, the Sard Al Thahab Award aims to support the folk art of Arabic storytelling in all its forms, recognising the deep-rooted traditions of storytelling, folk tales, and legends that form an integral part of Arab heritage, culture, and thought. It also draws inspiration from Emirati history, geography, and cultural symbols, encouraging their study, and expressing them within the context of contemporary culture.

The award continues to record robust growth with each successive edition, with a total of 37 countries participating this year, marking a 68% increase from the 22 countries that took part in the first edition in 2023. Six of the participating countries in the 2025 edition are joining the award for the first time, namely Albania, Austria, Chad, Denmark, Italy, and Japan.

This growth reflects the Sard Al Thahab Award’s distinguished status and strong reputation across Arab and international cultural circles, underlining its pioneering role as a platform for folk narrative leaders and creative minds excelling in popular and storytelling arts.