Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), honoured the winners of the 42nd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair Awards and the 15th edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature.
The award ceremony was also attended by Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, along with prominent authors, intellectuals, and media figures.
In the 2023 edition of the awards, distinguished literary works were awarded including: Happened in Sebeya, authored by Dr. Suad Al-Araimi and published by Dar Al Saqi, who secured the prestigious Best Emirati Novel award. The Best Emirati Academic Book was bestowed upon Woman in Emirati Folklore: A Cultural Reading of Popular Discourse by Dr. Aisha Ahmed Al Ghais, published by Al Thabi Publishing and Distribution.
The title of Best Emirati Creative Literature Book was claimed by the poetry collection Al-Ghaseq, authored by Najat Al-Zaheri and published by Manshurat Ghaf Book Trading; and the Best Emirati First Novel Book Award was presented to Mazofa Samma, written by Mona Abdulqadir Al-Ali and published by Dar Thaqafa for Publishing and Distribution.
In the category of Best Arabic Novel, the esteemed SIBF Award went to Bab Al-Wadi by Ahmed Tayyebawi, published by Dar El Shorouk. The title of Best International Fiction Book was awarded to An Andalus Adventure written by Saiyada Jalali and published by Black Stone House; while Unbounded – A Memoir by Huda Al-Ghusn and published by Media Publishing earned the distinction of Best International Non-Fiction Book.
The award of Best Local Publisher went to Dar Malamih; while Al Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah from Egypt was acknowledged as the Best Arab Publisher; and OM Books International from India clinched the title of Best International Publisher.
Inspiring models of meaningful words
Sheikha Bodour also honoured the winners of the 15th edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and sponsored by Etisalat by e&.
‘Feelings, Feelings!’ by Fatimah Al Sadoun and illustrated by Iman Abdul Hamid, from Saudi Arabia, published by Noon Books: Nahed AlShawa Cultural in Canada, was honoured for winning the Early Reader category; ‘An Elephant on My Finger’, written and illustrated by Abdullah Al Sharhan and published by Ajyaal in UAE, was honoured for winning the Picture Book category.
In the Chapter Book category, the honour went to ‘Destroying the World in 46 Seconds’ by Mays Dagher and Mohammed Al Hamawi, published by Al Yasmine Publishing and Distribution in Jordan; ‘Mariam’s Earring’ by Rania Bedda, published by Nahdet Misr in Egypt, was honoured for winning the Young Adult Book category, while ‘Water’s Singing’ by Mohanned Al Akouse, published by Noor Al Maarif in Egypt, was honoured for winning the Poetry category.
