New edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award

Candidacies may be submitted until November 25. The category of "Arab Culture in Other Languages" includes Spanish, as well

As of November 25, the period for submitting candidacies to the Sheikh Zayed Book Award will be open. In this edition of 2014-15, the award's ninth, Spanish has been included for the first time ever in the category of "Arab Culture in Other Languages."  Spanish academics and diplomats have praised the initiative of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award to include works written in the Spanish language in its new 2014-2015 edition, in the category “Arab Culture in Other Languages.” The decision has been described as a very significant step towards the promotion and dissemination of Arab cultural and literary studies in Spanish-speaking countries.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award, given under the auspices of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, was created in 2006 in memory of Sheikh Zayed, the first president of the UAE. Its objective is to promote the dissemination of Arabic letters and open doors for dialogue between civilizations. It is divided into nine categories. Since it was created, it has become one of the most prestigious literary and cultural awards, because throughout its eight years of existence, it has managed to build bridges of communication with the world community by being presented at international  book fairs, and through the holding of seminars and symposiums in its name at various cultural forums.

Arabist Pedro Martínez Montávez, professor emeritus and former rector of the Universidad de Autónoma de Madrid, as well as a winner of the Sheikh Zayed award as the Cultural Person of the Year in 2009, expressed his sincere congratulations to those responsible for the Sheikh Zayed Book Award due to the decision reached with regard to the Spanish language. 

For his part, Eduardo López Busquets, the General Director of Casa Árabe in Madrid, he showed his satisfaction due to the fact that Casa Árabe has become one of the entities collaborating with the Sheikh Zayed Awards.
 
Saeed Hamdan, director of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, pointed out that the Arabic and Spanish languages share a great common history, and therefore “we are very pleased to welcome works written in Spanish at this edition of the award, to convey aspects of Arab culture to Spanish-speaking peoples and to further enrich the creative works accepted in the category of Arab Culture in Other Languages.”

Rules on award evaluations and registration form for the awards
Website of the Sheikh Zayed Award (in English)