SHARJAH, UAE- Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), honoured the winners of the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) Awards during a ceremony held at Expo Centre Sharjah as part of the fair, organised by SBA under the theme “Made of Stories”.
The ceremony was attended by H.E. Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA, alongside writers, publishers, and cultural and media figures.
Award submissions reach 3,018
SIBF 2026 received 3,018 submissions across its Emirati, Arabic and International Book Award categories, a substantial increase over the previous edition.
Submissions across the Sharjah Award for Emirati Book categories more than doubled, rising from 184 in 2025 to 380 this year. Entries for the Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel increased from 1,339 to 1,593, while the Sharjah Award for the Best International Book received 1,045 submissions, up from 454 last year.
SIBF Awards celebrate literary and intellectual creativity
Khoula Al Mujaini, General Coordinator of SIBF, said during the ceremony: “By honouring the winners, we recognise the creative and intellectual contributions of writers and publishers whose outstanding works enrich literature, thought and knowledge. Supporting these talents and recognising their achievements is central to the cultural vision established by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.”
She added: “Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the SBA, this vision continues to advance through efforts to develop the publishing industry, expand its international presence and create new opportunities for writers and publishers to bring their works to wider audiences.”
Best Emirati Book Awards
Her Highness honoured the winners of the 2026 Best Emirati Book Awards across four categories.
Maryam Al Zarouni won the Best Emirati Novel Award for Years of the Maghreb: Marginal Notes from the Biography of the Stranger, published by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.
The Best Emirati Academic Book went to Sorour Khalifa Al Kaabi for A Glossary of Classical Words in the Colloquial Speech of the Emirati People, published by Nabti Publishing House.
Dr. Shihab Ghanem received the Best Creative Literature Book (Poetry) for Al Makhad Fi Wadi Abqar, published by Metaverse Press FZC, while Saleh Al Bahar won the Best Emirati First Novel Award for The Moaning of the Flute, published by the Sharjah Department of Culture.
Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel
Antoine Douaihy won the 2026 Sharjah Award for the Best Arabic Novel for Al Shitaa Al Kabeer, published by Arab Scientific Publishers.
Best International Book Awards
Marcia Hutchinson won the Best International Fiction Book for her novel The Mercy Step, published by Cassava Republic Press.
Nirmala Lakshman received the Best International Non-Fiction Book for The Tamils: A Portrait of a Community, published by Aleph Book Company Pvt Ltd.
Sharjah Publisher Recognition Award
Al Qasimi Publications won the Best Local Publishing House award, while Lebanon’s Arab Institute for Research and Publishing received the Best Arabic Publishing House award.
Poland’s Sonia Draga Publishing House won the Best International Publishing House award.
Honouring SIBF sponsors and partners
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour also honoured the sponsors and partners of the 45th SIBF in recognition of their contributions to the fair’s events and cultural and professional programmes.
Those recognised included Etisalat (official telecommunications partner), Sharjah Broadcasting Authority (official media partner), Bank of Sharjah (banking partner), Equiti (financial services partner), SAS (development partner), Trends Research and Advisory (knowledge partner), and Expo Centre Sharjah (strategic partner), alongside Omeir Travel Agency and National Paints.
Honouring graduates of the 2026 Launch Track
The ceremony also honoured graduates of the 2026 Launch Track, part of the Sharjah Publishing Sustainability Fund (Onshur). The programme supports emerging publishers in developing their projects and establishing publishing houses and cultural initiatives with the potential for long-term growth.
Graduates representing 16 publishing and cultural industry projects were recognised, including Esra Abdalla Ahmed Mohammed Almulla for Bloom Publishing & Distribution; the Ulfa project team, comprising Asma Karam Murad Karam Alraeesi, Hamda Ibrahim Bilal Nasir Alyassi, Mouza Saleh Mahmood Saleh Alotaiba and Mahra Ali Ahmed Abdalla; Eqlima Walid Mohammed Ali for Tawalif Publishing; Eman Abdul Hamid Matrmawi for Art4books; Alanoud Mohammed Jumaa Mubarak AlMarar for Manara Publishing and Knowledge Development; and Hafsa Hariga for Insan Platform.
Other graduates honoured were Samer Nagah Abdelfattah Ali Elboraei for Tayf Publishing and Distribution; Aysha Nayef Ahmad Abdalla for Daw Publishing House; Fatima Khalfan Obaid Busraih Alaleeli for Flamingo Publishing House; Faisal Mohammed Khamis Humaid Alshamsi for Erth Publishing & Knowledge; Lamya Ali Mohammed Ali Alsaiqal for Lamya Publishing FZE; Mira Abdelrahman Ali Abdelrahman Alhammadi for Qittah Publishing and Training House; Maitha Ali Salem Saeed Alkaabi for Numu; Hoda Kalajo for The Passion Press; Hoda Mahmoud Mostafa Saad Mahmoud Elweley for Nama Publishing & Distribution; and Yamna Saif Al Raei Al Neikhaira Alshamsi for Biban Publishing.
H.H. Bodour Al Qasimi honours winners of the 18th edition of the International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature
Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), honoured the winners of the 18th edition of the International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature, presented by Etisalat and organised by UAEBBY, at a ceremony held during Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2026.
The ceremony was attended by Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of SBA; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY; and Saood Ibrahim Saleh, Vice President of Government Sales for Dubai and the Northern Emirates at Etisalat. Also in attendance were cultural figures, representatives of organisations working in the book sector, members of the award’s jury, and numerous authors, illustrators, publishers and media professionals, alongside guests of SIBF.
Sheikha Bodour presented the awards across the five categories: Early Reader, Picture Book, Chapter Book, Young Adult Book and Non-Fiction. The Early Reader award went to Shapes from the Imagination, written by Nasser Al Dousari (Mr Noun), illustrated by Maya Majdalani and published by Zingo Ringo Books in Switzerland. Fahman, written by Masarra Touqan, illustrated by Maya Majdalani and published by Kalila wa Dimna Publishing in Jordan, won the Picture Book award.
The Chapter Book award went to Unbesieged Minds, conceived by Lina Abou Chaban, written by Shireen Sabanegh and illustrated by Shirough Idris, Amani Albaba, Abdullah Qawariq, Naeem Ajouly and Diyala Zada, published by Jabal Amman Publishers in Jordan. The Young Adult Book award was won by The Boy Who Lost His Dream, written and illustrated by Rima Al-Shaal and published by Roya for Publishing and Distribution in Turkey. The Non-Fiction award went to The Knowledgeables Trip – A Journey with Arab and Muslim Scholars, written by Muhannad Al Akous, illustrated by Omar Lafi and published by Noon Books: Nahed AlShawa Cultural in Canada.
Sheikha Bodour also honoured the jury members for their expertise and work in assessing the entries and selecting the winning books. The jury comprised Dr Hanada Taha, an expert in Arabic language education; Dr Rana Dajani, founder of We Love Reading; Lebanese children’s book illustrator Maya Fidawi; Emirati author Nadia Al Najjar; and Pam Dix, a British specialist in libraries and children’s literature. The recognition acknowledged their contribution to highlighting outstanding work and upholding literary and artistic standards in books for children and young adults.
Marwa Al Aqroubi: Better Books, Greater Opportunities
In her address, Marwa Al Aqroubi expressed her gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his support for UAEBBY and its initiatives. She also paid tribute to the vision of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, who conceived the award and has guided its continued development.
Al Aqroubi said: “We are proud of the award’s role in encouraging people to recognise the children’s book as a complete creative work, with every element deserving care, from the idea and text to the illustrations and production. Among the achievements we value most is encouraging authors, illustrators and publishers to work together to create books that give children the pleasure of reading while respecting their intelligence and their needs at every stage of development.”
She added: “The growing number of participating publishers creates opportunities for a more diverse range of books and makes room for new creative approaches. Our ambition is for broader participation to lead to a wider readership, by promoting outstanding books, encouraging interest in their publishing and translation rights, and strengthening their presence in schools and libraries. An award gives a book an opportunity, and it is our shared responsibility to help it make the most of that opportunity, so that the award’s success translates into better books, greater opportunities for their creators and a stronger place for reading in every child’s life”.
Etisalat: Supporting Creativity, Reaching More Readers
Saood Ibrahim Saleh said: “This celebration takes on greater significance at Sharjah International Book Fair, which we are also proud to sponsor. We value the direct encounters it makes possible between books and their readers, and between creative professionals and their partners in publishing. By sponsoring both the fair and the award, we help recognise outstanding work, give it exposure to wider audiences and connect it with those who can help it reach more readers”.
He added: “Supporting culture is part of our social responsibility. Working in a sector where technology advances rapidly and access to information is constantly changing, we understand the value of reading in developing comprehension, discernment and independent thinking. We give particular attention to children’s books because generations equipped to use the tools of the future also need knowledge to guide their choices, imagination to give them the confidence to innovate, and language through which to express their ambitions”.
Shapes from the Imagination: Learning through play and discovery
Shapes from the Imagination, winner of the Early Reader category, offers an interactive experience that invites children to discover basic geometric shapes and imagine how they might become houses, trees and animals. Through illustrations, open-ended questions and recurring details across its pages, the book encourages children to observe, follow visual clues and express themselves. It also leaves room for them to draw their own stories, bringing together learning, play and creative freedom.
Fahman: A visual adventure that encourages questioning and verification
Fahman, winner of the Picture Book category, takes children on a playful investigative journey. Using a red lens that reveals hidden details in the illustrations, readers test what they hear and arrive at a simple scientific explanation. This interaction gives children an active role in discovering the story, encouraging them to ask questions, gather evidence and draw conclusions through observation.
Unbesieged Minds: Children finding practical solutions to everyday challenges
The stories in Unbesieged Minds, winner of the Chapter Book category, follow five children from Gaza who respond to harsh circumstances through science and invention. Using scrap metal, old boards, bicycles and plant waste, they devise solutions that restore light, warmth and communication to those around them. The book tells stories of children’s ability to take action, sustain hope and use knowledge to improve their lives amid siege and destruction.
The Boy Who Lost His Dream: Ambition and family constraints
Set in Damascus in the late nineteenth century, The Boy Who Lost His Dream, winner of the Young Adult Book category, follows Khaled as he grows up in an old house near the Umayyad Mosque, waiting to fulfil dreams that come up against his family’s restrictions. A decision changes the course of his life and leads him into unexpected experiences. Caught between his ambitions, his grandfather’s strictness and his father’s harshness, he embarks on a journey that confronts him with questions of choice and the limits placed on his dreams.
The Knowledgeables Trip – A Journey with Arab and Muslim Scholars
The Non-Fiction winner, The Knowledgeables Trip – A Journey with Arab and Muslim Scholars, introduces young readers to the contributions of Arab and Muslim scholars across scientific disciplines and the knowledge they shared for the benefit of humanity. The book brings this legacy closer to children, celebrating scientific inquiry, creativity and the lasting influence of its pioneers on the history of knowledge.
Growth in entries and publisher participation
The award’s 18th edition received 475 entries from 20 countries, submitted by 148 publishers and involving 324 authors and 231 illustrators. Entries increased by approximately 17% compared with the previous edition, while the number of participating publishers rose by 28% and authors by 16%. Of the submissions, 434 met the eligibility requirements. From these, a shortlist of 25 books published by 17 publishing houses in eight countries was selected. The winners were then chosen according to criteria covering originality of concept, the quality of the text and illustrations, correct use of language, production standards and suitability for the intended age group.
By publisher location, the UAE led submissions for the second consecutive year with 149 books, followed by Egypt with 115, Jordan with 52, Saudi Arabia with 43 and Lebanon with 27. Entries from Syrian publishers increased from three to 11. Publishers from non-Arab countries also participated, including Canada with 15 entries, Turkey with nine, Switzerland with eight and the United Kingdom with one. The geographical diversity of the participating creators extended to authors from 29 countries and illustrators from 33.
A new rotating category for the next edition
Non-Fiction completed its second year as the award’s rotating category, which focuses on a different area of children’s publishing every two years. A new category will be introduced in the next edition. Non-Fiction received 27 entries this year, compared with 184 in Picture Book, 112 in Early Reader, 85 in Young Adult Book and 67 in Chapter Book. The figures reflect the diversity of submissions across reading needs and literary and informational formats.
Launched in 2009, the award continues to encourage the development of Arabic content that combines enjoyment with literary, artistic and educational value by recognising outstanding books and introducing their creators to wider audiences. Honouring the winners at Sharjah International Book Fair offers an opportunity to present their work to readers and industry professionals, develop partnerships that help these books reach further, strengthen their presence in homes, schools and libraries, and support their translation into other languages.
