Sharjah: Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), honoured the winners of the 17th International Award for Arabic Children's Literature (IAACL) during a ceremony at Expo Centre Sharjah as part of the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ceremony was attended by notable figures including Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the UAEBBY; and Mohammed Al Amimi, Acting General Manager, Northern Emirates, e and UAE. The event celebrated Arab creative talent whose works have captivated young readers and reflected the advancement of Arabic children's literature.
During the ceremony, winners of the five categories were announced. The Early Childhood category was awarded to "Tomorrow is Another Day" by Dalia Al Menhall Mirza, illustrated by Maya Majdalani. The Picture Book category went to "Jerusalem's Hidden Gate" by Ibtisam Suleiman Barakat, illustrated by Charlotte Chama. "A Dive" by Nour ElHoda Mohamed, illustrated by Zeina Al Messiri, won the Chapter Book category. The Young Adults category was awarded to "Children of the Shadow" by Hala Abbas, while the Non-Fiction category was won by "Who Am I" by Qais Saleh Al Hanti, illustrated by Isra Haidari.
The jurors were honoured for their role in selecting the winning entries based on criteria such as originality, language quality, and visual presentation. The 17th edition received a record 407 submissions from 22 countries, highlighting the award's growing international reputation.
In her keynote speech, Marwa Al Aqroubi emphasized the visionary journey initiated by Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, aiming to inspire generations through literature that speaks to Arab children's identity and nurtures a love of reading. Mohammed Al Amimi highlighted the partnership's cultural importance and the award's role in supporting Arab writers, illustrators, and publishers.
The winning titles showcased a range of themes and styles, from imaginative stories promoting tolerance to young adult novels exploring identity. With a total value of AED1.2 million, IAACL is one of the region's most distinguished honours in children's and young adult publishing. Each category carries a prize divided among the author, illustrator, and publisher, with additional support for the 'Warsha' training program.