Book Awards in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

This article examines book awards in the United Arab Emirates as an important cultural mechanism for supporting authorship, encouraging reading, stimulating scholarly activity, and promoting the publishing and book industry. It frames these awards within the broader Emirati cultural project, arguing that state support for books and creative writers has not been merely ceremonial, but rather part of an institutional vision aimed at human development, cultural consolidation, and the wider promotion of knowledge and creativity. The article also links the growth of such awards to the cultural environment that enabled them, especially official initiatives, influential cultural figures, and major events such as the Sharjah Book Fair.

The article has a strong documentary and guide-like character, as it presents a concise overview of major book-related awards in the UAE, noting their dates and organizing bodies. It then devotes particular attention to the Sharjah First Publication Award, outlining its objectives, branches, and submission requirements as a means of discovering and supporting emerging authors through unpublished first works. It also discusses the Best Author and Best Publisher of the Arab Book Award, highlighting its role in encouraging excellence in writing and publishing across a range of scholarly and literary fields, including children’s books. Overall, the article offers a combined documentary, informative, and interpretive perspective on book awards as instruments for strengthening cultural dynamism and supporting the book sector locally and across the Arab world.