Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Sheikh Dhiyab bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Head of the Presidential Court for Development Affairs and Families of Martyrs, honored the winners of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for its 19th edition. The award ceremony took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center (ADNEC) as part of the events of the 34th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, which commenced on April 26 and will continue until May 5.
Accompanying him at the ceremony were His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the President, and Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Head of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre and Secretary-General of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
Sheikh Dhiyab presented the awards to the recipients, which included: Lebanese-French author Hoda Barakat for the Literature category, Moroccan writer Latifa Labssir for the Children’s and Young Adult Literature category, Italian translator Marco Di Branc for the Translation category, Moroccan researcher Dr. Said Al Awadi for the Arts and Literary Studies category, Emirati Professor Mohamed Bashari for the Development and Nation-Building category, British researcher Andrew Peacock for the Arab Culture in Other Languages category, and Iraqi-British researcher Rashid Al Khuin for the Manuscript Authentication category.
Additionally, Sheikh Dhiyab honored renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami as the Cultural Personality of the Year, recognizing his significant contributions to the global literary scene with his unique novels, which are among the most widely read and translated works worldwide. This illustrates literature’s ability to bridge various cultures and foster communication among peoples.
The 19th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, achieved unprecedented participation with over 4,000 nominations from 75 countries, including 20 Arab nations. This year marked the debut participation of five new countries: Albania, Bolivia, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mali, reflecting the award’s esteemed position in the international cultural landscape and its role in establishing the UAE as a global hub for thought and culture.