Abu Dhabi A prestigious new International Prize for Arabic Fiction has been launched with the support of the Emirates Foundation, the leading philanthropic organisation in the UAE, in association with the UK’s internationally reputed Booker Prize Foundation.
The prize, which is specifically for prose fiction, will award $ 60,000 in total to the winner and $10,000 to each of the five runners-up.
Its aim is to reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage wider readership of quality Arabic literature in the region and internationally.
The prize is also designed to encourage translation and publication of Arabic language literature into other major languages. A number of European and US publishers have shown positive interest in publishing the translated winning works.
The prize is also designed to encourage translation and publication of Arabic language literature in other major languages – particularly English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. A number of European and US publishers have already shown positive interest in publishing translated winning works.
“We see this new annual award as highly important for the Arab World. It marks our commitment to celebrating the richness, diversity and importance of the Arabic language and culture – and introducing both to a global audience,” said Omar Saif Ghobash, Deputy CEO of the Emirates Foundation.
He added, “This is a wonderful way to recognise Arab literary achievement and to bring the best of these achievements to the rest of the world. We want to encourage and support new creative writing in Arabic – as well as wider and deeper reading by the public.”
Jonathan Taylor, Chairman of the Booker Prize Foundation commented, “I believe that this Prize will reward and bring recognition and readership to outstanding writers in Arabic. I look forward to seeing more high-quality Arabic fiction being accessible to a wider world.”
An independent Board of Trustees, drawn from across the Arab world and beyond, and representing a balanced gender and generation mix, will be responsible for appointing independent judges and for the overall management of the Prize. The administrator of the Prize will report to the Board of Trustees. It is intended that the first prize will be awarded in early 2008.
Full details of how publishers can submit works for evaluation, including procedures and timelines, will be published shortly.
