Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The winners of the 19th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) have expressed their appreciation, highlighting the cultural significance of the award in recognising, supporting and boosting literary works, scholars and emerging talents.
The award recognises outstanding works from around the world in the categories of Literature, Children's Literature, Translation, Contribution to the Development of Nations, Literary and Art Criticism, Arab Culture in Other Languages, and Editing of Arabic Manuscripts.
This year's winners hail from seven countries, including the UK, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco and the UAE.
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), the 19th edition of the SZBA received more than 4,000 submissions from 75 countries, including 20 Arab nations.
In the Translation category, Italian scholar Marco Di Branco was awarded for his 2024 English translation of "Orosius", a classical work first translated from Latin to Arabic. The bilingual edition features both Arabic and English texts, making the work accessible to a broader audience and shedding light on historical Arab-European cultural exchange.
"My work focuses on translating a 10th-century CE Greek romance into Arabic under Andalusian caliph al-Ḥakam II," Di Branco said.
"Remarkably, it was a collaboration between a Muslim and a Christian translator - a powerful example of East-West cooperation."
Initially trained in Romance studies, Di Branco shifted focus to explore the intersection of Greek romance and Arab culture.
"The book bridges East and West, offering a beautiful message of cooperation and peace," he added.
Di Branco expressed his appreciation of the recognition.
"It is a great honour. I am now planning a European project on the Muslim reception of Greek romance."
In the Arab Culture in Other Languages category, UK researcher Andrew Peacock won the award for his book "Arabic Literary Culture in Southeast Asia in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries."
The book explores Arabic's presence in Southeast Asia, using a wide range of Arabic manuscripts - many from the National Library of Indonesia and other global collections.
"The book deals basically with the easternmost regions in which Arabic was used, a topic which has never been investigated in a serious way to date by scholars."
It also aims to convey a much more comprehensive understanding of the role of Arabic, as a global phenomenon, he added.
He also drew attention to the importance of preserving manuscripts, noting that the award reflects how seriously this is taken in the UAE.
Lebanese-French author Hoda Barakat won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Literature for her 2024 novel "Hind or the Most Beautiful Woman in the World."
The story follows a woman with acromegaly and explores life on the margins, questioning beauty standards and societal norms through a rich, introspective voice.
"I am very happy with this honour, and proud of any international award, let alone one of this magnitude and with such cultural and civilisational significance. Abu Dhabi holds a special place in my heart... This reinforces the sense of balance between the Arab world and the outside world," Barakat said.
"The Arabic language is not a slogan for them, but a true belief... the committee genuinely supports Arab creativity," she added.
Moroccan writer Latifa Labsir won the award for Children's Literature for "The Phantom of Sabiba."
The novel, told through the eyes of an older sister, delicately explores autism and its impact on families, blending literary storytelling with educational insight.
"The novel sheds light on autism, a complex topic that demands both scientific understanding and creative sensitivity. Before writing, I attended workshops, visited centres, and studied extensively to present an honest and artistic portrayal," she said.
Labsir added that the story, spanning 21 chapters, follows Raji, a boy on the autism spectrum, and the daily efforts of his family to support him through therapy, speech sessions, and imaginative engagement.
"I wanted readers to reflect - just as people with autism seem different to us, we also appear different to them. Difference is not a flaw, it's a form of uniqueness," she said.
Dr. Said Laouadi from Morocco won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the Literary and Art Criticism category for his 2023 book "Food and Language: Cultural Excavations in Arab Heritage."
His work explores the deep ties between food and rhetoric in Arab heritage, offering a new lens he terms "cultural rhetoric."
"This book sheds light on food in Arabic heritage literature, exploring how it shapes and is shaped by speech. I focused on how food influences rhetorical expression."
"It's the result of years of research. I introduced the concept of 'cultural rhetoric' to read heritage texts from a new perspective," he added.
"This award is a great honour-not a final destination but encouragement to keep exploring and contributing to this field."
Rasheed Alkhayoun from Iraq/UK won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in the Editing of Arabic Manuscripts category for his critical edition of "News of Women."
The book is a rare historical and literary resource, considered one of the first global collections of women's works, and reflects deep scholarly insight.
"Working on 'News of Women' led me to over 250 sources and opened the door to new ideas. While it doesn't explicitly discuss women's rights, it offers a fair and respectful portrayal of women for its time," Alkhayoun said.
"Winning this award feels like earning a new academic certificate. It's a major milestone in my career because the book underwent thorough scholarly review," he continued.
"The Sheikh Zayed Award has become globally recognised, with winners from all over the world, highlighting its growing cultural influence," Alkhayoun added.
