Najat Al Saghira, Egyptian star of screen and song, honoured in Abu Dhabi
Scholars and authors from across the Arab world were honoured for their contributions at the 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award on Wednesday. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed highlighted the award’s importance as a global platform expanding the presence of Arab creativity. The event is held during Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which runs until Friday. Sheikh Theyab, who is Deputy Chairman of…
On Wednesday, the 20th Sheikh Zayed Book Award recognized scholars and authors from the Arab world for their contributions. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Deputy Chairman of the Presidential Court for Development and Fallen Heroes’ Affairs, emphasized the global platform's significance in amplifying Arab creativity. The award ceremony, part of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, took place during the fair, which continues until Friday.
Among the winners were Egyptian author Ashraf Al Elashmawy in Literature, Moroccan researcher Mustapha Rajouane in Young Author, Iraqi-American researcher Nawal Nasrallah in Translation, Jordanian author Zuhair Tawfiq in Literary and Art Criticism, and German scholar and translator Stefan Weidner in Arab Culture in Other Languages. Additionally, Egyptian Prof Dr Mohamed Elkhosht received a special award for Manuscripts, Encyclopedias, and Lexicons.
A highlight of the event was the Cultural Personality of the Year award presented to Egyptian icon Najat Al Saghira. Al Saghira, a legend of Egyptian cinema and music from the golden age of Arab music in the 1940s through the 1960s, is renowned for singing the UAE's national anthem on its first National Day on December 2, 1972. The Abu Dhabi Government Media Office cited her enduring impact on the Arabic language through her songs, which have become an integral part of Arab cultural memory.
Al Saghira's career underscores the arts' role in fostering communication between cultures, preserving cultural identity, and strengthening its presence across generations.
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