Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2023 longlist announced.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2023 announced their longlists in the Literature, Children’s Literature, and Emerging Author categories on November 10, 2022.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is presented to Arab writers, intellectuals, and publishers as well as young talent whose writings and translations of humanities have scholarly and objectively enriched Arab cultural, literary, and social life. The categories handed out are Cultural Personality of the Year, Children’s Literature, Young Author, Contribution to the Development of Nations, Translation, Literature, Literary and Art Criticism, Arab Culture in Other Languages, and Publishing and Technology.  The award winners get a gold medal, a certificate of merit, and 750,000 dirhams.

For 2023, the prize received an outsized number of entries: 881 in the emerging author category, 688 in the literature category, and 386 in the children’s-literature category. Here are the longlisted books;

Literature

• Almer: Akhtam Al Madeenah Al Fadelah: (Almer: Seals of the Utopian City), Abdelillah Benarafa (Morocco), Dar Al Adab Publishing & Distribution (2022).
• “Hijab Al Saher” (A Magician’s Veil), Ahmed Al Shahawi (Egypt), Al-Dar Al-Masriah Al-Lubnaniah (2022).
• “Aseer Nish: Rakan bin Falah bin Hethlain” (Prisoner of Nish: Rakan bin Falah bin Hethlain), Ahmed Hamad AlSubait (Saudi Arabia), United Takween Group Press, Publishing & Distribution (2022).
• “Rasasa fi Al Raas” (A Bullet in the Head), Ibrahim Issa (Egypt), AlKarma Books (2021).
• Hourrass Al Houzn” (Guardians of Sadness), Amir Tag Elsir (Sudan), Hachette Antoine / Nofal (2022).
• Al-Qata’i: Thoulatheyat Ibn Tulun” (Al-Qata’i: Ibn Tulun’s Trilogy), Reem Bassiouney (Egypt), Nahdet Misr Publishing (2022).
• Abnaa Hura” (The Sons of Hura), Abdelrahim Kamal (Egypt), AlKarma Books (2021).
• Ifrah ya Qulbi” (Rejoice, My Heart), Alawiya Sobh (Lebanon), Dar Al Adab Publishing & Distribution (2022).
• Ila Ayn Ayyathouha Al Kaseedah” (Whereto, O Poem? An Autobiography), Ali Jaafar Alallaq (Iraq), Alaan Publishing (2022).
• Antakia Wa Molouk Al Khafaa” (Antioch and the Kings of Secrecy), Lina Hawyan Alhasan (Syria), Dar Al Tanweer Publishing & Distribution (2021).
• Moujazafat Al Aref” (Knowledgeable Risk) (Poetic Work), Mohammed Ibrahim Yaghob (Saudi Arabia), Tashkeel Publishing & Distribution (2022).
• Kullo Aoushbaten Sawtouha wa Kullo Ghaimaten Kathalek” (To Every Grass Leave Its Sound, and to Every Cloud as Well) (Poetic Work), Mohamed Ghozi (Tunisia), Contraste Editions (2022).

Youth Author

• Madeeh Al Ikhtilaf: Derasat fi Falsafat Al Ketaba wa Siasat Alhawiya ” (Praise of Difference: Studies in the Philosophy of Writing and Identity Politics), Mohamed Bekkaye (Algeria), Al Rawafed Culture and Nadim Edition (2022).
• Al Khetab Al Kasasi fi Ayyam Al Arab fi Al Jahileya: Kiraah Tadawouleyah Hijajeyah (Narrative Discourse in the Days of Arabs in the Pre-Islamic Era: A Pragmatic and Argumentative Examination), Dr. Abdessattar Al Jamai from Tunisia, issued by Dar Kunouz Al-Marefa Publishing & Distribution in 2021.
• Al Badawi Al Abiad (The White Nomad), Mutaz Albader (Saudi Arabia), Dar Al Tanweer Publishing & Printing (2021).
• Aroos Al Kamar, Hekayat Al Holm Al Afriki” (The Comoros Bride: An African Dream Tale), Mohammad Tarazi (Lebanon), Arab Scientific Publishers Inc. (2021).
• Al Wahl wa Al Noujoom” (Dirt and Stars), Ahmad Lutfi (Egypt), Aseer AlKotb (2022).
• Al Tajreeb fi Al Khetab Al Sheary Al Emarati Al Mouaaser” (Experimentation in Contemporary Emirati Poetic Discourse), Dr. Hessa Abdulla Al Ketbi (UAE), Sharjah Department of Culture in 2021.
• Haraket Alfadh Al Hadarh Al Arabieyah min Bayan Al Jahedh to Aked iben Abd Rabbeh” (The Movement of Words in the Arab Civilization: From the Statement of Al Jahiz to the Unique Contract of Ibn Abd Rabbeh), Dr. Ali bin Hamad Al Riyami (Sultanate of Oman), Alaan Publishers & Distributors & The Omani Society for Writers & Literati (2022).
• Nehayat Al Sahra’a” (The End of the Desert), Said Khatibi (Algeria), Hachette Antoine / Nofal (2022).
• Fawka Jisr Al Joumhoureyah (Over the Republic Bridge), Shahid Alrawi (Iraq), Dar Alhikma Publishing & Distribution (2020).
• Al Belad Al Tounnouseaya fi Oyoun Al Rahhalah Al Alman” (Tunisia in the Eyes of German Travelers (1535-1881 AD), Dr. Atef Salem (Tunisia), Editions Arabesques (2021).
• Naqd Al Naqd Wa Tajalleyatoh Fi Al Tourath Al Nakdi Wa Al Balaghi Al Arabi” (Criticism of Criticism and Its Manifestations in the Arabic Rhetoric and Critical Heritage), Dr. Issam Benchellel (Algeria), Difaf Publishing & El-lkhtilef Publishing (2021).
• Fareedah Wa Sedi Al Mathloum” (Farida and My Oppressed Master), Heba Ahmad Hassab (Egypt), Al Mahrousa Center for Publishing, Press Service, and Information (2021).

Children’s Literature

• La Ahad Yal’ab Ma’ai” (No One Plays With Me), Mohammed Alohaly (Saudi Arabia), Al Hudhud Publishing and Distribution (2022).
• Lu’bat al-Nujoom” (The Star Game), Afra Mahmood (UAE), Al Hudhud Publishing and Distribution (2022).
• Min al-Fajr ila al-Ghuroob maa’ Toyour Ghabat Alkharuwb” (From Dawn to Dusk with the Birds of the Carob Forest), Flora Majdalawi (Jordan), Majdalawi Masterpieces Books (2022).
• Mala Narah” (What We Don’t See), Shaima Alwatani (Bahrain), Afkar for Culture & Publishing in 2021.
• Aba’at Abi (My Father’s Gown), Basemah Alwazzan (Kuwait), National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature (2022).
• Jaddi wa al WhatsApp” (My Grandfather and WhatsApp), Parween Habib (Bahrain), issued by Dar Al Saqi (2022).
• lastu Wahedan” (I Am Not Alone), Rami Tawil (Syria), Dar Al Saqi (2021).
• Rabieon Samet” (Silent Spring), Razan Al Naeemy (Iraq), Qindeel printing, publishing & distribution (2022).
• Abhathu an Shai’ (I Am Looking for Something), Sahar Naja Mahfouz (Lebanon), Dar Kiwi Stories (2022).
• Einstein: Asrar Alkoutaa 99 (Einstein and the Secrets of the 99th Element), Sharif Saleh (Egypt), Wow for Publishing & Educational Services (2022).
• Rehla Dafeaa Molawana (A Colourful Warm Journey), Doha Jawad (Syria), Dar Ashjar Publishing & Distribution (2020).
• Al Sorra Al Ajeebah (The Wonder Bundle), Nadia AlNajjar (UAE), Alfulk Translation & Publishing (2022).

The award will announce the longlisted titles for the remaining categories later.