Sheikh Zayed Book Award calls for nominations for 2016-2017

ABU DHABI, 23rd May, 2016 (WAM) -- The Sheikh Zayed Book Award has announced that it is accepting nominations for its eleventh cycle of 2016/2017 starting this month until 1st October, 2016. The announcement was made following the award’s grand ceremony, marking the wrap up of the 10th session, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. The award received a total of 1,169 nominations from around the world, led by the Young Author category with 332 works, followed by the Literature with 270 works. The award provides a pronounced opportunity to creative individuals in any of the award’s various categories which include Best Contribution to the Development of Nations, Children’s Literature, Young Author, Translation, Literature, Literary and Art Criticism, Arabic Culture in Other language, Publishing and Technology and Cultural Personality of the Year. Nominated books must have been published in the last two years and shouldn’t be previously awarded by an international/Arab Prize. The work must be written in Arabic, except for nominations in both the ‘Translation’ and the ‘Arabic Culture in Other Languages’ categories. The award has launched its renovated website, where applicants can download the application forms and the full information on the nominations policy and process for the nine categories. The Sheikh Zayed Book Award's first instalment was in 2007, intended to promote scholarship and creativity in Arab culture. It carries cash prizes totalling AED7 million, with AED750,000 each winner in all eight categories (including the Arab Culture in non-Arabic languages category) and AED 1 million for the cultural personality of the year winner. Additionally, winners receive a certificate of merit and a Gold Medal. – Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395295775806.html