AED 16 Million in Sharjah Book Awards Fuels Publishing Growth with Record Applications

Sharjah, UAE: The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) has become a major cultural force over the last five years, granting over AED 16 million in awards and support to authors, translators, and publishers worldwide. Led by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the book fair has set new global standards in publishing excellence and cultural exchange.

SIBF’s generous awards and grants have drawn over 17,900 applicants from the UAE, the Arab world, and beyond. These awards recognize top achievements in literature, translation, and publishing, with prominent accolades like the Turjuman Award and the Sharjah Translation Award.

Promoting Arabic Literature Worldwide with AED 7 Million Turjuman Award

The prestigious Turjuman Award, created to promote Arabic literature globally, has awarded AED 7 million over five years, encouraging publishers to translate outstanding Arabic works into other languages. With 289 applications from 16 countries, this award has fostered cultural understanding by supporting literary translations. Each year, the award offers AED 1.4 million, including a dedicated AED 100,000 prize for the translator, and allocates the remaining funds between the foreign and original Arabic publishers.

With a total prize fund of AED 3,125,000, SIBF celebrates a wide range of literary categories. Key awards include the Sharjah Award for Emirati Books, Best Arabic Novel, Best International Book, and the Publisher Recognition Award. Since 2019, these awards have attracted 3,540 participants from 45 countries, solidifying SIBF’s place on the global cultural calendar.

Supporting Emirati Literature and New Authors

The Sharjah Award for Emirati Books, with an annual AED 300,000 prize, promotes UAE literature across four categories. Notable among them, the Best Emirati First Novel category awards AED 50,000 to new Emirati authors, emphasizing Sharjah’s commitment to nurturing home-grown literary talent.

The Best Arabic Novel award offers AED 150,000, recognizing novels with creative depth and unique themes. Meanwhile, the Best International Book award, worth AED 100,000, honors top works in both fiction and non-fiction from English-language authors.

Honoring Publishing Excellence with Publisher Recognition Award

The AED 75,000 Publisher Recognition Award acknowledges innovative publishing efforts, with prizes for Best Local Publisher, Best Arab Publisher, and Best International Publisher, each receiving AED 25,000.

Since 2019, SIBF’s Translation Grant Fund has provided AED 5.9 million to support 1,115 translation projects, advancing Arabic literature’s global significance.

The 43rd edition of SIBF, running from November 6-17, promises an engaging lineup with 2,520 exhibitors from 112 countries, 400 authors, and more than 1,357 events for all ages. This year’s fair aims to bring together voices from across the world, celebrating Sharjah’s dedication to fostering literary and cultural connections globally.

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