The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation has announced the opening of submissions for the 20th edition of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award for 2026–2027, with entries accepted from February 1 until August 1, 2026.
Established in 1987 by the late poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, the award is recognised as an independent and neutral cultural honour. It is granted solely on the basis of creative merit, without consideration of political affiliations or ideological beliefs, and makes no distinction based on race, religion or gender.
The award, which carries a total value of, with $150,000 allocated to each category, aims to encourage and honour Arab writers, authors, thinkers and scholars in recognition of their contribution to intellectual and scientific advancement in the fields of culture, literature and knowledge across the Arab world.
The award is presented in five categories: poetry; short story, novel and drama; literary studies and criticism; humanities and future studies; in addition to the Achievement Award. The first four categories are subject to a formal adjudication process, while the Achievement Award is not judged competitively. Instead, the Foundation’s Board of Trustees selects a cultural, scientific or public figure, or an institution, that has made a lasting and meaningful impact on cultural life.
The Foundation is working currently on distributing submission forms to a wide range of Arab universities, as well as cultural institutions, associations, unions, literary bodies and publishing houses, to ensure they are accessible to candidates across the Arab world. Submission forms may also be requested directly from the Foundation or downloaded via its official website at www.alowais.com.
With regard to the nomination process, and in accordance with the Foundation’s regulations and bylaws, candidates may be nominated by universities, cultural institutions, unions, literary associations and publishing houses. In addition, creative professionals are entitled to nominate themselves directly by submitting their applications to the award’s General Secretariat. Five Arab writers may also jointly nominate a candidate they deem suitable for the award, provided that the nominee gives formal consent once contacted by the General Secretariat.
The previous edition of the award saw poet Hamid Said honoured in the poetry category, novelist Inaam Kachachi recognised in the short story, novel and drama category, thinker Abdeljalil Al Tamimi awarded in the humanities and future studies category, and critic Hamid Lahmadani winning in the literary studies and criticism category.
The Achievement Award was conferred upon His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in recognition of his exceptional cultural and intellectual contribution in advancing knowledge and culture around the world.
For more information about the award’s terms and conditions, or to obtain a submission form, please visit the Foundation’s official website at www.alowais.com
