The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA), organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), has unveiled the shortlists for its 20th edition (2025-2026). The selections span a wide range of categories: Literature, Young Author, Translation, Literary and Art Criticism, Arab Culture in Other Languages, Manuscripts, Encyclopaedias and Lexicons, and Publishing and Technology. Together, the shortlisted works reflect the diversity and depth of contemporary creative and scholarly production across the Arab world and beyond.
The Scientific Committee approved the shortlists following a comprehensive review of reports submitted by the specialised judging panels. The process took place during a series of meetings chaired by His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC and Secretary General of the Award, in the presence of committee members including HE Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, Juergen Boos, Dr Nadia El Cheikh, Mustafa Al Slaiman, Dr Khaled Al Masri, Dr Reem Bassiouney, Dr Moneera Al Ghadeer, and Dr Mehmet Hakki Suçin. The shortlists were endorsed in strict adherence to established academic standards, reinforcing the Award’s standing as a leading global platform that honours intellectual and creative excellence while advancing cultural dialogue.
Literature
The Literature shortlist comprises three titles: Births in the Zoo by Ashraf Elashmawy (Egypt), Fourrure by Nizar Abdulsattar (Iraq), and Secret of the Al Za‘farana by Badriah Albeshr (Saudi Arabia). The selected works represent a rich spectrum of narrative voices and thematic concerns within contemporary Arabic fiction.
Young Author
The Young Author category features Plots and Characters: A Rhetorical Argumentative Approach to the Arabic Novel by Mustapha Rajouane (Morocco), The Companion: A Book About Books by Omar Zakaria (Jordan), and My Undying Butterfly by Alaa Alqatrawi (Palestine), highlighting emerging intellectual and literary talent in the region.
Translation
Four works were shortlisted in the Translation category, illustrating vibrant exchanges between Arabic and other languages. These include Geert Jan van Gelder’s English translation of Abu Mansur al-Thaʿalibi’s Beautifying the Ugly and Uglifying the Beautiful; Dr Mohamed El Ouali’s Arabic translation of The New Rhetoric by Chaïm Perelman and Lucie Olbrechts-Tyteca; Nawal Nasrallah’s English translation of the thirteenth-century Arabic cookbook Anwāʿ al-Ṣaydala fī Alwān al-Aṭʿima; and James E. Montgomery’s English translation of hunting poems by Abu Nuwas.
Literary and Art Criticism
Shortlisted works in this category include Foundations of the Arabic Linguistic Theory by Ramzi Mounir Baalbaki (Lebanon), Perceiving the World: Mutual Stereotypes Between the Self and the Other by Zuhair Tawfiq (Jordan), and News and Eyewitness Accounts by Dr Ahmed Gasmi (Tunisia). These studies contribute rigorous critical perspectives on language, representation, and narrative theory.
Arab Culture in Other Languages
This category features four works published in English, German, French, and Italian, addressing topics such as early Arabic poetry, classical ethics, and Arabic manuscript traditions. The shortlist underscores the sustained global scholarly engagement with Arab intellectual heritage.
Manuscripts, Encyclopaedias and Lexicons
The shortlist includes specialised scholarly editions and reference works, notably Al-Muʾnis fī Akhbār Ifrīqiyya wa-Tūnis, Encyclopaedia of World Religions (six volumes), Martyrium Arethae Arabice, and a critical edition of The Dīwān of Abū al-Ṭayyib al-Mutanabbī. These works exemplify sustained academic efforts in preserving and advancing classical and encyclopaedic knowledge.
Publishing and Technology
Shortlisted entities in this category are the Emirates Literature Foundation (UAE), Iqraaly – Arabic Audiobooks (Egypt), and Dar Al Adab (Lebanon), reflecting innovation and institutional leadership in the cultural and publishing sectors.
For its 20th edition, the Award withheld prizes in the Children’s Literature and Contribution to the Development of Nations categories. More than 4,000 submissions were received from 74 countries, including first-time participation from Chile, Iceland, and Luxembourg. The scale and diversity of participation highlight the Sheikh Zayed Book Award’s expanding international footprint and its role as a premier platform fostering creativity and cross-cultural dialogue.
