Kanz Al Jeel Award Shortlists Celebrate Arabic Literary Creativity Across Continents

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre has unveiled the shortlisted works for the fifth edition of its prestigious Kanz Al Jeel Award, honouring 18 literary and artistic contributions from eight nations, with winners to be announced at the Al Ain Book Festival.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre has distilled the finest expressions of Arabic literary and artistic achievement into its shortlists for the Kanz Al Jeel Award’s fifth edition, representing a remarkable global response to the institution’s call for creative works. This year’s competition drew submissions from 35 countries, among them five nations entering for the first time: Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Indonesia and Spain. The breadth of this international engagement speaks to the award’s growing significance as a forum for celebrating Arabic language and culture beyond the traditionally recognised centres.

Eighteen works have advanced to the final stage across four categories, each category reflecting distinct dimensions of Arabic literary practice. The Arts category features six artworks, among them ‘Reem Al Azayib’ by Muneera Naji from the UAE and works from Syria, Iraq and Morocco that engage with classical Arabic aesthetic traditions. The Poetry Matching category showcases five poems selected from robust competition, whilst the Poetic Publications category honours four collections, including ‘Baynouna’ by Hazza Ali Abualreesh from the UAE and ‘Journey of Emotions’ by Mahdi Al Atawi from Saudi Arabia. The Studies and Research category, which documents the transition of Nabati poetry from oral tradition to scholarly analysis, features three entries including ‘Communicative Language in the Poetry of Sheikh Zayed’ by Dr Riyad bin Nasser Al Fraiji and ‘A Glossary of Classical Words in the Colloquial Speech of the Emirati People’ by Surour Khalifa Al Kaabi.

The Higher Committee, chaired by Prof. Dr. Aysha Al Shamsi and comprising poet Ali Al Sabaan, Dr. Muntasir Al Hamdan, poet Obaid bin Qadlan Al Mazrouei, Dr Abdullah bin Ghlais, and Waleed Alaeddin as rapporteur, has approved the shortlists following thorough examination of judges’ reports. The award’s Board of Trustees will now select the ultimate winners from these shortlists and determine the Creative Personality of the Year. As we reported in our coverage of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s distinguished presence at Frankfurt Book Fair 2026, the institution continues to advance Arabic language and literature through international cultural dialogue.

The awards ceremony is scheduled to take place during the Al Ain Book Festival next month, an appropriate venue for celebrating works that sustain and extend the Arabic literary heritage. The committee has determined to withhold the Translation category award for this edition, focusing recognition on the categories where submissions achieved the highest calibre. Through the Kanz Al Jeel Award, the Arabic Language Centre pursues its mandate to promote Arabic language and Emirati culture, encourage literary creativity, and support the preservation and publication of Arabic and folk literature, whilst also acknowledging the remarkable contributions emerging from across the Arab world and beyond.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre’s role as custodian and advocate for Arabic language extends beyond the emirate’s borders, positioning Abu Dhabi as a centre for the preservation and celebration of Arab cultural expression. The fifth edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award, with its expanded international participation, reflects the emirate’s commitment to fostering linguistic and literary excellence across the Arab region and among diaspora communities worldwide. By creating a platform for voices from Afghanistan to Spain, the Centre reinforces Abu Dhabi’s identity as a place where cultures converge and where the Arabic language continues to evolve and flourish.

The award’s particular emphasis on Nabati poetry, documented through the Studies and Research category, speaks to Abu Dhabi’s dedication to preserving and systematising the folk traditions that form part of the UAE’s cultural foundation. This scholarly approach to literature and language aligns with broader initiatives such as the establishment of the UNESCO Chair for Arabic Language, AI and Digital Heritage, demonstrating the region’s comprehensive engagement with both traditional and contemporary dimensions of Arabic cultural life.

Source: WAM