The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the new members of the Higher Committee of Sard Al Thahab Award 2024, which includes an elite group of writers, authors, intellectuals and experts in various disciplines related to the Award’s categories.
The Award’s new Higher Committee will be chaired by Emirati writer and
media personality Ali Obaid Al Hamli. Members include Professor Mohammad Al Safrani, Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Taibah University in Medina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; and Professor Asmaa Al Ahmadi, Associate Professor of Modern Literature and Criticism in the Department of Arabic Language and Literature at King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia.
Other members also include Dr. Said Yaktine, Moroccan researcher in narratology, criticism, and literary theory; and Dr. Miral Al Tahawy, an award-winning Egyptian novelist and short story writer, Associate Professor of Modern Arabic Literature and the Head of Classics and Middle Eastern Studies at the School of International Letters and Cultures (SILC) at Arizona State University in the US.
Ali Obaid Al Hamli, head of the committee, stated, “The Sard Al Thahab Award, which celebrates authentic Arab identity and culture, complements the range of prestigious literary awards administered by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre. This initiative aims to enhance the Arabic language and its vocabulary in the hearts of younger generations.”
The Sard Al Thahab Award is an annual honor launched by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in 2022. It aims to celebrate the rich tradition of Arabic storytelling across the Arab world. The award recognizes the enduring legacy of storytelling in Arabic, including the dissemination of folk tales and legends, which are integral to Arab heritage, culture and identity.
The award encompasses six categories:
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Short Story for Unpublished Stories
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Short Story for Published Stories
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Popular Narratives
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Narrators, which celebrates individuals who narrate folk literature and biographies from the UAE and the broader Arab world.
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Illustrated Story
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Emirati Narration, which honors literary works that strengthen Emirati identity, drawing inspiration from the UAE’s history, geography, and symbols to create distinctive narratives.
