Abu dhabi: Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes' Affairs, honoured the winners of the 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) in a ceremony held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The event was organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), part of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, on the sidelines of the 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF 2026).
According to Emirates News Agency, Sheikh Theyab was accompanied by Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture; Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE; and Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, along with senior officials. Sheikh Theyab emphasized the award's significance as a global knowledge platform that expands the presence of Arab creativity worldwide and highlights Abu Dhabi's role as a global centre for dialogue and knowledge exchange.
Awards were presented to winners across various categories. Egyptian author Ashraf Al Elashmawy received the Literature award; Moroccan researcher Mustapha Rajouane was honoured in the Young Author category; Iraqi-American researcher Nawal Nasrallah won in the Translation category; Jordanian author Zuhair Tawfiq was recognised in the Literary and Art Criticism category; German scholar and translator Stefan Weidner was awarded in the Arab Culture in Other Languages category; and Egyptian Prof Dr Mohamed Elkhosht received the award in the Manuscripts, Encyclopaedias, and Lexicons category. The Emirates Literature Foundation was honoured in the Publishing and Cultural Technology category.
Egyptian artist Najat Al Saghira was awarded the Cultural Personality of the Year, recognising her career and contributions to the Arabic language through her music. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, acknowledged the award's 20-year legacy of promoting excellence in literature, knowledge, and intellectual achievement.
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, highlighted the award's role in fostering Arab culture and intellectual excellence globally. He noted that the award continues to evolve, supporting writing, translation, and publishing while promoting Arabic culture's global presence.
The 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award received over 4,000 nominations from 74 countries, bringing the total submissions since its inception in 2006 to approximately 33,000 from nearly 80 countries. The award has honoured 144 winners, including authors, thinkers, researchers, and cultural institutions, and has supported the translation of over 50 titles into 12 languages since 2018.
Throughout its 20-year history, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award has celebrated intellectual and creative excellence, advancing cultural engagement globally and supporting the UAE's vision of promoting knowledge and cultural dialogue.