Abu Dhabi:The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has unveiled the shortlists for the fifth edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award, scheduled for 2026. The list features 18 works from eight countries across four categories, with winners to be announced during the Al Ain Book Festival next month.
According to Wam, this year's award attracted submissions from 35 countries, including five newcomers Afghanistan, Andorra, Armenia, Indonesia, and Spain. 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 (rapporteur), approved the shortlists after a detailed review of judges' reports.
The categories include Arts, Poetry Publications, Poetry Matching, and Studies and Research. In the Arts category, six artworks have been shortlisted, including contributions from the UAE, Syria, Iraq, Morocco, and Iraq. The Poetry Matching category includes five poems from authors in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
For the Poetic Publications category, four poetry collections were shortlisted, featuring works from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the Sultanate of Oman. The Studies and Research category, which focuses on Nabati poetry, includes three selected entries from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Bahrain.
The Translation category award will not be presented this year. The next stage will involve selecting the winners and the Creative Personality of the Year. The Kanz Al Jeel Award is part of ALC's initiatives to promote Arabic language and Emirati culture, as well as to support literary creativity and the preservation of Arabic and folk literature.