Abu dhabi: The General Secretariat of the Khalifa Award for Education, part of the Erth Zayed Philanthropies institutions, has announced the commencement of the Khalifa Children’s Creativity Storytelling Competition for children aged 7 to 15. The initiative aligns with the Second Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Week scheduled from 17th to 23rd November 2025.
According to Emirates News Agency, Humaid Al Houti, the Secretary-General of the Award, stated that the competition supports the mission of the Khalifa Award to promote creativity and talent development among children. In partnership with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), the competition aims to boost imagination, creative expression, and a sense of national identity among young participants in Abu Dhabi.
Al Houti highlighted that the Khalifa Award for Education also grants the Khalifa International Award for Early Learning Field, the first of its kind worldwide, to acknowledge exemplary practices in child empowerment and care. This new competition is built upon this foundation, aiming to position Abu Dhabi as a center for creativity and innovation in education.
He further explained that the initiative endeavors to reinforce national values, instill loyalty and belonging, promote environmental awareness and sustainability, and enhance children’s appreciation of the Arabic language and literature. It also provides a platform for discovering early literary talents among children.
The competition features two categories: Creative Buds for children aged 7 to 9, requiring stories of 150-200 words, and Emerging Writers for children aged 10 to 15, requiring stories of 200-300 words. Registration is open from 1st to 10th November, with winners announced during Early Childhood Week.
Evaluation criteria comprise the correct use of simple Arabic, creativity, coherence, educational and moral values, and adherence to the word limit. Submissions must be original works written in Arabic and not previously published. Entries found to be copied or generated using artificial intelligence tools will be disqualified.
Each category will have three winners, who will receive cash prizes, a commemorative shield, and an accredited certificate of excellence. The winning works will be published on the Award’s media platforms to encourage young writers and celebrate their literary accomplishments.