SHTAIU unveils languages selected for 13th edition in 2027

Doha – The Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding (SHTAIU) has announced the languages that will be featured in its 13th edition in 2027. The award aims to maintain its previous practice of announcing the selected languages months in advance, allowing translators, publishers, and academic institutions sufficient time to prepare for participation.

The languages chosen are based on in-depth studies by translation experts, focusing on the translation between Arabic and other international languages. SHTAIU considers factors such as the volume of translation output, academic and cultural activity associated with each language, and strives for balanced representation across continents and regions, in line with its goal of fostering intercultural connections.

In the Single Book Category, Spanish and English have been selected due to their status as widely spoken and globally influential languages. Spanish had previously been included in two prior editions, reflecting the ongoing momentum in Spanish-Arabic translation. The top three places in each category offer a combined prize of $200,000.

The Achievement Category honors individuals and institutions with long-term, cumulative contributions to translation. This year, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Uzbek, and Japanese were chosen for this category, with the latter three representing less widely spoken languages chosen to support their potential for translation and encourage knowledge exchange.

To mark the upcoming edition, SHTAIU will conduct outreach tours in countries where the selected languages are spoken. These tours will involve visits to universities, research centers, and academic institutions specializing in Arab and Islamic studies. The tours aim to engage directly with researchers, translators, and academics to assess the translation movement and establish partnerships that advance international cooperation, in line with the award's objectives.

Applications and nominations for the 13th edition will open on January 1 and close on March 31 via the award's official website. All interested individuals and institutions are encouraged to regularly check the award's official website and social media accounts for updates and to begin preparing early to participate. The broad and outstanding participation expected from countries around the globe will further strengthen the award's mission of promoting translation and strengthening intercultural dialogue.