The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Awards (or Al Owais Awards; ) are a biennial prize for literary and cultural achievement in the Arab world.Standing Regulations, Al Owais Award website. It is administered by the Sultan Bin Al Owais Cultural Foundation of the United Arab Emirates. The award was established by the late Emirati businessman and philanthropist Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais. The awards were first given out in 1988-89.
The Al Owais Cultural Awards are given in four categories: Poetry, Novels, Criticism/Literature Studies, and Human/Future Studies. Winners in each category receive a prize of for a total of making it one of the richest literary prizes in the world. The prizes were previously worth $100,000 until increased in 2025. A fifth award called the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Award for Scientific and Cultural Achievement has different rules and criteria, with a prize amount of .
In 2004, the poetry prize was awarded to Iraqi poet Saadi Youssef but was withdrawn after he criticized Emirati ruler Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Winners List of winners: 1988–1989 Poetry: Fadwa Touqan Stories, Novels & Drama: Saadallah Wannous, Hanna Mina Criticism & Literature Studies: Jabra Ibrahim Jabra, Ali Jawad Al Taher
1990–1991 Stories, Novels & Drama: Alfred Farag, Abdul Rahman Munif Criticism & Literature Studies: Ehssan Abbas Human & Future Studies: Zaki Nageeb Mahmood, Fuad Zacharia Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Mohammad Mahdi Al Jawaheri
1992–1993 Poetry: Abdullah Al-Baradouni Stories, Novels & Drama: Sulaiman Fayyad, Sonallah Ibrahim Criticism & Literature Studies: Yumna Al-Eid, Farooq Abdul Qader Human & Future Studies: Abdullah Abdul Dayem Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Nizar Qabbani
1994–1995 Poetry: Abd al-Wahhab Al-Bayati Stories, Novels & Drama: Edwar al-Kharrat Criticism & Literature Studies: Nasir al-Din al-Asad Human & Future Studies: Awatef Abdul Rahman, Mohammed Ghanem Al Rumaihi Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Hamad Al Jasser
1996–1997 Poetry: Ahmed Abdul Mutti Hijazi, Ibrahim Nasrallah Stories, Novels & Drama: Gamal al-Ghitani, Walid Ikhlasi Criticism & Literature Studies: Gaber Asfour, Shukri Ayyad Human & Future Studies: Mohammed Jaber Al Anssari, Fahmi Jada’an, Mohammed Jaber Al Anssari Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Edward Said
1998–1999 Poetry: Muhammad Afifi Matar Stories, Novels & Drama: Fouad al-Tikerly Criticism & Literature Studies: Abdullah Al Ghozami Human & Future Studies: Saleh Ahmad Al Ali, Nasseef Nassar Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Yusuf al-Qaradawi
2000–2001 Poetry: Qassim Haddad Stories, Novels & Drama: Zakaria Tamer, Mohamed el-Bisatie Criticism & Literature Studies: Mohsin Jassim Al Mosawi Human & Future Studies: Abdul Wahab Al Maseeri Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Al-Arabi magazine
2002–2003 Poetry: Hasab al-Shaikh Ja'far Stories, Novels & Drama: Muhammad Khudayyir Criticism & Literature Studies: Mustafa Abdou Nassif Human & Future Studies: Mahmoud Ameen Al A’lem Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Mahmoud Darwish, Adunis
2004–2005 Poetry: Muhammad al-Maghut Stories, Novels & Drama: Iz Aldin Al Madani Criticism & Literature Studies: Mohammed Meftah Human & Future Studies: Antoon Zahlan Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Tharwat Okasha
2006–2007 Poetry: Mohammed Bennis Stories Novels & Drama: Yousef el-Sharoni, Elias Khoury Criticism & Literature Studies: Abdelfattah Kilito Human & Future Studies: Hichem Djait Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Juma Al Majid, Salma Khadra Jayyusi
2008–2009 Poetry: Abdulaziz Al-Maqaleh Stories, Novels & Drama: Tahar Ouettar Criticism & Literature Studies: Abdul Salam Misaddi Human & Future Studies: Galal Amin Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi
2010–2011 Poetry: Muhammad Ali Chamseddine Stories, Novels & Drama: Radwa Ashour Criticism & Literature Studies: Faisal Darraj Human & Future Studies: Abdul Aziz Al Douri Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Amin Maalouf
2012–2013 Poetry: Mohammad Ibrahim Abu Senna, Nazih Abu Afash Stories, Novels & Drama: Mohammed Azeddine Tazi Criticism & Literature Studies: Ahmed Etman Human & Future Studies: El Sayed Yassin Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Dar Al Khaleej Printing & Publishing
2014–2015 Poetry: Habib Al Sayegh Stories, Novels & Drama: Yusuf al-Qa'id, Ismail Fahd Ismail Criticism & Literature Studies: Salah Fadl, Kamal Abu-Deeb Human & Future Studies: Roshdi Rashed Cultural & Scientific Achievements: King Faisal Foundation
2016–2017 Poetry: Chawki Bazih Stories, Novels & Drama: Hoda Barakat, Abdel Khaliq al-Rikabi Criticism & Literature Studies: Hammadi Hmaida Sammoud Human & Future Studies: Georges Corm Cultural & Scientific Achievements: United Arab Emirates University
2018–2019 Poetry: Ali Ja'far al-Allaq Stories, Novels & Drama: Alawiya Sobh Criticism & Literature Studies: Mohammed Lutfi Al Yusufi Human & Future Studies: Haidar Ibrahim Ali Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa
2020–2021 Poetry: Elias Lahoud Stories, Novels & Drama: Nabil Suleiman Criticism & Literature Studies: Abdelmalek Mortad Human & Future Studies: Ahmed Zayed Cultural & Scientific Achievements: Assilah Forum Foundation
2022–2023
Poetry: Hassan Talab Stories, Novels & Drama: Amin Saleh Criticism & Literature Studies: Abdullah Ibrahim Human & Future Studies: Abdessalam Benabdelali
References
External links Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award, official website