Etisalat Award for Arabic Children Urges Participants

The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature -the most prestigious regional awards programme for children and young adult literature - has encouraged publishers, authors and illustrators of Arabic children books who are considering participating in the eighth edition of the award to send in their entries without delay. 

The programme, which is organised by the UAE Board on Books for Young People(UAEBBY)and sponsored by EtisalatGroup - the UAE's leading telecommunications operator -gives potential submitters until August 31 to apply, with the rewards on offer for winners including cash prizes and a significant enhancement of their literary profile.

“We encourage all authors, publishers and illustrators from the Arab world to apply to the eighth edition of the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature before the deadline expires at the close of August. On offer for submitters is a unique experience in the book industry, with the chance to win in one of its categories and achieve a prestigious level of standing in the Arab literary world. Winning would enrich their professional portfolio, enhance their career and could be the key that unlocks their success in the field of children and young people books,” said Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY Executive Board.

In alignment with Etisalat’s efforts and that of the UAEBBY, the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature plays a crucial role promoting the children book industry in the Arab world. It encourages publishers, authors and illustrators to produce titles which are especially engaging, with a high quality of design, language, narrative flow, illustration and production that motivates children to immerse themselves in knowledge and culture.

Al Aqroubi highlighted the importance of meeting the award’s eligibility criteria and conditions, among which are that the book should be an original work and not have previously received any localor international award. She reiterated that translated and adapted books are not eligible for submission. 

Al Aqroubi added that the Children’s category in the award targets children aged 0-12 years, while the Young Adults’ category is tailored for the age group 13-18 years. She stated that the winners will be announced at the opening ceremony of the 35thedition of Sharjah International Book Fair, which takes place in November 2, 2016.

The eighth edition of the award has to date received 80 submissions from authors, publishers and illustrators.Since the beginning of July, the award’s sorting committee has commenced processing the submitted entriesand evaluating them in order to find the best titles that provide cultural and literary content that elevates the intellect of children and young adults.

Entries for the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature can be submitted via Express Post to the following address: The UAE Board on Books for Young people, Al Qasba,Building D, First floor, P.O. Box: 1421, Sharjah, UAE. They can also be submitted electronically online through the award’s official website: www.etisalataward.ae.

The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s Literature was launched in 2009 by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Patron of the UAEBBY. It aims to promote a culture of reading and instil a love of Arabic books within children by honouring the creative productions of the best authors, illustrators and publishers in the children book industry and motivate them to produce innovative texts, productions and designs to create unique high-quality Arabic children's books.