Khaberni - Jordanian writer Zuhair Tawfiq won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award in its 20th edition in the category of Arts and Critical Studies for his book (Perception of the World: Mutual Stereotypes Between the Self and the Other) published by Al-Now Publishers and Distributors in 2025, which is an analytical study that traces the formation of stereotypes in Arab and Western consciousness throughout history, from the Middle Ages to modern Orientalism.
According to a statement issued by the award in Abu Dhabi today, Friday, the book shows that representations of the other are not the product of a fleeting moment, but the fruit of a cultural accumulation shaped by various religious, literary, and intellectual sources. Its originality lies in its approach that considers the other as a structural element in the formation of the Arab self, transcending sharp binaries and providing a balanced reading that reveals mutual and changing representations, contributing to a deeper understanding of the relationship between identity and cultural representation.
In its 20th edition, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award continues to expand its geographical reach and enhance its international presence, with this year's winners list including 8 winners from diverse cultural environments including winners from Jordan, Germany, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, and the UAE, embodying its inclusive mission for creators and researchers from various cultures, and affirming its role in building bridges of intellectual dialogue under a single cultural umbrella, open to the world and attracting its creative energies.
According to the statement, the winners and the Cultural Personality of the Year are scheduled to be honored during a ceremony organized by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Center, with the date to be announced later, where the winner of the “Cultural Personality of the Year” award will receive a gold medal, a certificate of appreciation, and a cash prize worth a million dirhams (272,000 dollars), and the winners in other categories will receive gold medals, certificates of appreciation, and cash prizes worth 750,000 dirhams (204,000 dollars) in honor of their intellectual and creative contributions.
The current edition for the year 2026 will feature a rich international program celebrating two decades since the launch of the award, showcasing its accumulated cultural legacy, and highlighting its impact in supporting Arab literature and internationalizing knowledge, affirming its continued mission to empower creativity and enhance its presence in the global cultural scene.
It is noteworthy that the current edition witnessed broad participation with over 4,000 nominations from 74 countries, reflecting the prestigious status of the award in the international cultural arena, and affirming its growing impact in supporting creativity, expanding the circles of cultural influence of the UAE, and establishing the presence of Arab literature as an active voice in global culture.
