At the 2026 edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honorary President of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), personally presented the 18th International Award for Arabic Children’s Literature.
The ceremony took place on 5 November 2026 in the fair’s main auditorium and was attended by a host of prominent figures, including Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority; Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY; and Saood Ibrahim Saleh, Vice President of Government Sales for Dubai and the Northern Emirates at Etisalat. Cultural scholars, representatives of publishing organisations, jury members, authors, illustrators, publishers and media professionals were also present, alongside regular visitors to the fair.
According to WAM, the event showcased the five award categories – Early Reader, Picture Book, Chapter Book, Young Adult Book and Non‑Fiction – each of which was awarded to a title that exemplifies literary quality and cultural relevance.
The Early Reader award went to "Shapes from the Imagination", written by Nasser Al Dousari (Mr Noun), illustrated by Maya Majdalani and published by Zingo Ringo Books in Switzerland. The Picture Book award was given to "Fahman", written by Masarra Touqan, illustrated by Maya Majdalani and published by Kalila wa Dimna Publishing in Jordan. The Chapter Book category recognised "Unbesieged Minds", conceived by Lina Abou Chaban, written by Shireen Sabanegh and illustrated by Shirough Idris, Amani Albaba, Abdullah Qawariq, Naeem Ajouly and Diyala Zada, and published by Jabal Amman Publishers in Jordan. The Young Adult Book award was presented to "The Boy Who Lost His Dream", written and illustrated by Rima Al‑Shaal and published by Roya for Publishing and Distribution in Turkey. Finally, the Non‑Fiction award went to "The Knowledgeables Trip – A Journey with Arab and Muslim Scholars", written by Muhannad Al Akous, illustrated by Omar Lafi and published by Noon Books: Nahed AlShawa Cultural in Canada.
WAM noted that the trophy presentation highlighted the growing international participation of publishers, authors and illustrators in the award program, underlining the global appeal of Arabic children’s literature. The awards, which have been sponsored by Etisalat and administered by UAEBBY, are part of a broader initiative to support the cultural export of Arabic literary works.
During her remarks, Sheikha Bodour praised the expertise of the jury members, who assessed entries and selected the best titles in each category. She also acknowledged the role of UAEBBY and Etisalat in fostering a thriving literary ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates. The event ended with applause and a reaffirmation of the UAE’s commitment to promoting Arabic literature for children and young adults worldwide.