| Sheikh Zayed Book Award | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | Arab writers, intellectuals, publishers |
| Date | annual |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| First awarded | 2007 |
| Website | www |
The Sheikh Zayed Book Award is a literary award begun in the UAE.[1] It is presented yearly to "Arab writers, intellectuals, publishers as well as young talent whose writings and translations of humanities have scholarly and objectively enriched Arab cultural, literary and social life."[2] The first award was in 2007. The total value of the prizes is Dhs. 7,000,000 making it one of the richest literary awards in the world.
Often referred to “the Arab World’s Nobel Prize”,[3] the Award presents a range of annual prizes, such as ‘Literature’, ‘Translation’, ‘Arabic Culture in Other Languages’, and ‘Cultural Personality of the Year’.
The "Cultural Person of the Year" is the premier category which honours a prominent Arab or international figure (or organisation) who has contributed to the advancement of Arabic culture. It bestows an award of one million Dirhams (around $300,000) while the other categories receive around $200,000 each.[4]
Beginning with 2013 awards, a new category was added called "Arabic Culture in Other Languages", "to honor best written works in Chinese, German and English languages on the subject of the Arabic civilization and culture including novels, short stories, poems, biographies, history and arts."[5] In addition a number of other categories were merged, created or redefined.[6][7]
In 2018, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award launched a translation grant, to encourage the translation of Arabic literature into other languages.[8] The grant is open year-round to publishers and translators around the world to publish shortlisted or award-winning literary works from the Award’s Literature and Young Author prize categories.
In 2021, German philosopher Jürgen Habermas declined his Zayed Book Award, citing the UAE's political system (a repressive non-democracy).[9][10] A media debate ensued with some German commentators arguing that he should not have renounced the award.[11][12]
The award was established in memory of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the principal architect of United Arab Emirates, the authoritarian ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE for over 30 years (1971–2004).
2007[13]
2009[13]
2011[13]
2015[27]
2016[31]
2017[33]
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023[36]
2024[37]
