Bodour Al Qasimi Honors Winners of the 16thEdition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature and Unveils the Award’s New Identity

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), founder and honorary president of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), honored the winners of the 16th edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature. Organized by the UAE Board on Books for Young People and sponsored by e&, the award ceremony took place yesterday (Wednesday) evening at the Sharjah Expo Centre as part of the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024. 

During the event, Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi launched the award's new identity, announcing that starting from the 17th edition, it will carry the name ‘The International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature by e&’. This rebranding aligns with the award’s growing global reach, broader horizons, and enhanced impact, aiming to attract more submissions from the Arab world and beyond. The new identity also increases opportunities for securing translation rights for the winning and shortlisted books, inviting international publishers to introduce these works to a wider audience—a powerful support for Arabic children's literature and its global resonance.

The award’s new emblem is inspired by the ‘Al Rolla Tree’, a cherished symbol deeply rooted in Sharjah’s cultural memory among UAE residents and visitors. The tree, centrally located in one of Sharjah’s most historic squares, Al Rolla Square, served as a gathering spot where ancestors would come together in its shade to exchange stories, negotiate trades, and poets would engage in prolonged verbal jousting. This spirit mirrors how books bring readers together within worlds of imagination and familiarity, creating shared joy and connection. The emblem's design also nods to paper derived from trees, symbolizing pages of books as the leaves that preserve stories.

The ceremony was attended by His Excellency Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People; Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, CEO, e& UAE; Mohammed Al Amimi, Acting General Manager of e& UAE, Northern Emirates; the jury members of the 16th edition of the Etisalat Award, and a gathering of officials, authors, cultural figures, and media personalities.

In the Early Childhood category (ages 0 to 5), the award went to ‘The Pillow’, written by Anas Abu Rahma with illustrations by Lubna Taha, published by Dinason Publishing House in Palestine. In the Picture Book category (ages 5 to 9), the award went to ‘The Elephant Will Arrive Soon’ by Dr. Fatima Zahra Ben Arrab, with illustrations by Shima Yousef Zarai and published by Al Muheet Publishing in the UAE. In the Chapter Book category (ages 9 to 12), the prize was awarded to ‘Miss Ilham and the Autumn’, authored by Suzanne Naeem Al Helo and illustrated by Basma Hossam, published by Al Salwa Publishers in Jordan. 

In the Young Adult category (ages 13 to 18), the winning title was ‘The Pearl Diver’s Daughter and the Baou Necklace’ by Maitha Al Khayat, illustrated by Hessa Al Muhairi, published by Ajyal Publishing House in the UAE. In the Poetry Book category (up to age 18), the award went to ‘Trees Coloring Life’ by Mohamed Jamil, illustrated by Basant Dawood, published by Jabal Amman Publishers in Jordan. These five remarkable titles were selected from a shortlist of 21 books from eight Arab and international countries, with leading contributions from Jordan and the UAE, alongside entries from Egypt, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Canada, and Turkey.

In her speech at the award ceremony, Marwa Al Aqroubi remarked, "Reading has granted us the oldest passport to a journey that transcends place and time. Through it, we have lived among nations unfamiliar to us, uncovered truths unknown to us. It opened doors to the world, sparked wonder, embraced hearts and minds, and established a sanctuary for knowledge. Here, in the capital of books—Sharjah, the heart of culture, history, and art—books have always been honored, and authors cherished as sources of inspiration and learning. Sharjah’s roots in culture are as enduring as its palm trees, firmly planted by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, and have flourished into a cultural renaissance, a legacy of knowledge, and a beacon of thought leadership." 

She emphasized that when Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi launched the award in 2009, libraries were lacking in diversity and creativity in children's and young adult publications. “This gap between the richness of our Arab cultural heritage and what reaches our youth widened over time with globalization, and this award came as a call to inspire Arab publishers and creatives to produce authentic Arabic works for children and young adults. Over the years, it has expanded its categories, raising the standard for Arabic publications aimed at young readers to stand alongside global publications in narrative quality, artistic presentation, and innovative themes—without compromising on the authenticity of its Arab identity or its commitment to settings and characters that reflect the Arab child's world.

Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY, continued, "Like a ray of light seeping through a crack in the door to illuminate the realm of thought, this award has opened a path for Arab authors to craft stories that will serve as the cornerstone of the Arab child’s imagination, and particularly that of the Emirati child. This grand dream has grown from a single Emirati entry in the award's inaugural year to 74 Emirati entries in this 16th edition, underscoring the UAE’s commitment to nurturing human minds, enriching intellect, and fostering talent. Our long-term investment in children's literature is a testament to our noble goal to cultivate cultural roots, bridge gaps, and build connections, never compromising on the identity that anchors our existence and opens vast avenues for progress and enlightenment." 

On his part, Masood M. Sharif Mahmood, expressed gratitude to Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi for her generous guidance, which has greatly contributed to the award's success. He also thanked the UAEBBY for this long-standing partnership that has given a platform to many Arab artists—publishers, authors, and illustrators—whose contributions greatly enrich the Arab children’s literary landscape.  Some of these award-winning works have even reached international audiences, thanks to translations into various languages. 

He added, "We remain dedicated to supporting this award as it has become imperative in today’s technology era to focus on knowledge building and foster an environment that will contribute to building the next generation of creative young Arabs. This is also due to our continuous commitment towards social responsibility and dedication to initiatives that enrich cultural life and bring community progress. We believe in investing in people—the most valuable asset of any community—and in building a generation of creative individuals who will lead their communities, bring prosperity to the country, and leave a positive impact wherever they are."

The ceremony featured a video documenting the award’s journey and unveiling its new identity, followed by a tribute to the members of the 16th jury: Iraqi poet and author Jalil Khazal, Emirati author and publisher Ameera Boukadra, Jordanian visual artist and illustrator Hassan Manasra, Lebanese author and translator Samar Mahfouz Baraj, and Egyptian author and publisher Weam Ahmed, in recognition of their dedicated efforts in evaluating and selecting the nominated and winning works.

The 16th edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature received a total of 330 entries from creatives across 21 countries, up from 323 entries in the previous cycle. These contributions represented the work of 213 authors, 200 illustrators, and 92 publishers. As for the distribution across the award's five categories, the Picture Book category attracted the highest number with 123 entries, followed by Early Childhood with 90 entries. The Young Adult category received 49 entries, the Chapter Book category received 42, and finally, the Poetry category received 26.

The total value of the award stands at an impressive AED 1.2 million. Each of the five categories offers a financial prize of AED 180,000, divided equally among the author, illustrator, and publisher, awarding each AED 60,000. However, for the Young Adult category, the prize is split between only the author and publisher, with each receiving AED 90,000. In addition, a sum of AED 300,000 is allocated to the ‘Warsha’ training program, an initiative launched by the award in 2013 to nurture talent in children’s literature.