An exciting new chapter
The Etisalat Award for Arabic Children’s literature was launched in 2009. It aims to provide an incentive for publishers, authors, and illustrators to publish Arabic children’s books and apps that are of the highest quality in both form and content. It is one of the richest awards of its kind in the world and is considered among the most important literary awards for children’s literature in the Arab region.
With the launch of its fifth edition in 2013, the Award begins an exciting new chapter in its history. The Award has widened its scope to include young adult fiction and added new 5 categories in order to highlight the individual achievements of writers, illustrators and publishers.
In 2017, the Award's 6th category was added as a subject to change every 2 years to meet the needs of the market. In 2017 & 2018, the Award 6th category was ‘Digital Book App’; in recognition of the growing importance of digital content in the publishing industry and to encourage their development. In 2019 & 2020, the Award 6th category was ‘Best Silent Book’; in recognition of silent books ability to transcend all limitations of language and reach children of different backgrounds.
The value of the Award increased from AED 1 million to become AED 1.2 million, distributed across 6 different categories.
In 2021, another new chapter is written. The Award is restructured one more time into 4 new fixed categories plus the 5th variable category to serve even larger segment of the publishing industry and thereby encourage more publishers, authors and illustrators to play a role in developing the Arabic children's book sector. The value of the Award stayed AED 1.2 million, distributed across the total of 5 different categories.
