From manga to medieval recipes: 15 Sheikh Zayed Book Award titles available in English
The winners of the 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award will be honoured on Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, marking two decades of one of the Arab world's most prestigious literary and cultural prizes. Launched in 2006, the award was created to recognise outstanding writing, translation and scholarship while promoting Arabic literature and greater cultural exchange. That ambition came…
The 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award, held in 2023, recognized 15 exceptional titles across various genres, all available in English. This prestigious award, launched in 2006, aims to promote Arabic literature and cultural exchange, granting Dh750,000 ($204,167) to winners in each category and Dh1 million ($272,222) to the Cultural Personality of the Year.
Fiction and children's literature include "The End of the Sahara" by Said Khatibi, a crime novel set in 1988 Algeria; "The Lilac Girl" by Ibtisam Barakat, inspired by a Palestinian artist; "I Dream of Being a Concrete Mixer" by Hussain Al Mutawaa, focusing on a young protagonist's unconventional ambitions; "The Dinoraf" by Hessa Al Mehairi, a picture book about a dinosaur seeking companionship; "Hatless" by Lateefa Buti, set in a city where individuals wear face-covering hats; "After Coffee" by Abdelrashid Mahmoudi, narrating the life of an Egyptian man navigating relationships across Egypt and Europe; and "Gold Ring" by Qais Sedki, a graphic novel blending Japanese manga elements with Emirati culture.
Poetry and biography recipients include Iman Mersal's "Traces of Enayat," exploring the life of Egyptian writer Enayat Al Zayyat; and "19 July" by Sa'ad al-Mayahi, commemorating the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.
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