Sharjah24: Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of the Executive Board of the UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY), announced that the number of applicants for the 15th Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature (EAACL) has exceeded expectations with 323 participants, witnessing countries participating for the first time. She stated that Poetry category has been introduced by Etisalat Awards this year.

Al Aqroubi also explained that the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature, organised by the council under the sponsorship of " Etisalat by e&", has divided into the following categories: Early childhood; Picture book; Chapter book; Youth Adults book; and Poetry book.

Al-Aqroubi added in her statement to "Sharjah24" that the selected books in the shortlist for the Etisalat Award for Arabic Children's Literature, were displayed at the House of Wisdom. She added that narrowing down the shortlist was a meticulous and demanding procedure, given the exceptional quality of the entries submitted for consideration in our 15th edition this year. She concluded that the dedicated jury committee invested significant effort in discerning the finest works across the Award's five categories.