Sharjah 24: The Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity (SAAC) has successfully come to a close. The twenty-sixth edition was held at the National Library in Amman, Jordan for two days, under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
The closing ceremony was attended by Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qasir, Director of Cultural Affairs in the Department of Culture (DoC), Secretary-General of the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity (SAAC), Faisal Al Sarhan, the Director of the Mafraq Poetry House, along with a large number of Jordanian and Arab intellectuals, writers, and academics.
The final day featured a series of poetry and short story readings from the winners of the poetry and short story categories. The texts showcased creative worlds with profound language and high artistic descriptions, addressing national and humanitarian concerns, and revealing wide visions and transparent contemplations held by new creators in the Arab cultural scene.
In the short story category, Reham Mahmoud Issa from Syria took first place for her collection "Marine Fish", while the second place went to Kamil Muhammad Kamil Yassin from Palestine for his collection "Streets", and third place was awarded to Nourhan Nashaat Fikry from Egypt for her collection "When I Became a Man". The three winners read stories that touch on the pulse of the times, displaying narratives woven by storytellers with a captivating style that resonated with the audience.
Several past and current winners expressed that Sharjah is a cultural beacon that illuminates the Arab world through the continuous support of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, particularly towards culture and intellectuals. They highlighted that the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity serves as a genuine launching pad for Arab creators.
The call for participation in the twenty-seventh edition was announced at the end of the event.