Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Representative of the Ruler in Al Dhafra Region, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan honored the winners of the second edition of the Golden Story Award 2024, organized by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Arabic Language in Al Dhafra Fort, in celebration of popular storytellers, narrators, and creators in the fields of oral storytelling and visual storytelling. During the ceremony, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan honored Iraqi writer and novelist Yas Al-Fahdawi, winner of the first prize in the short story category for unpublished works, for his story 'The Rooms Underneath'; Sudanese writer and novelist Abdulrahman Abbas, winner of the first prize in the short story category for published works, for his story 'The Last Judge in This Era'; and Bahraini writer Dhiya Abdullah Al-Khamees, winner of the first prize in the oral storytelling category for her story 'Bahraini Folk Tales, One Thousand and One Tales'. In the visual storytelling category, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan honored Iraqi artist Mahmoud Shubbar for his work 'Antarah and Ummayyah'; and Emirati narrator Obaid bin Sandal, winner of the first prize in the narration category, for his outstanding contributions to the cultural movement in the country. Additionally, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan honored American academic and researcher Roy Cossagranda, winner of the first prize in the Emirati storytelling category, for his efforts in highlighting the values of cultural revival, intellectual curiosity, and intercultural dialogue, and his deep understanding of the transfer of knowledge from Arab civilization to other civilizations. The ceremony was attended by: H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi; Nasser Al Mansoori, Deputy of the Representative of the Ruler in Al Dhafra Region; Saud Al Hosani, Deputy of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi; Dr. Ali Bin Temim, Director of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Arabic Language; Ali Obaid Al Hamli, Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Golden Story Award; and Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director-General of the National Archives and Library. Saud Al Hosani, Deputy of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, expressed his gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his patronage of the award. He said: 'The award's recognition of the winners is a testament to its objectives of celebrating creators, supporting distinguished storytelling, and promoting Arab culture and heritage, which is an integral part of the UAE's and the Arab region's cultural identity, and is closely linked to the hearts and minds of the audience, and is a reminder of the importance of preserving and promoting our cultural heritage.' Dr. Ali Bin Temim, Director of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Arabic Language, said: 'The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the Golden Story Award's development, and is a new beginning for a new phase that will be marked by the award's continued patronage and support for cultural initiatives, especially in the field of oral storytelling, which has become a beacon for enthusiasts of this art form, and a platform for celebrating their work.' Ali Obaid Al Hamli, Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Golden Story Award, congratulated the winners of the second edition, highlighting the importance of the award, which takes its name from the thought of the late founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul. He considered the award to be a valuable addition to cultural and intellectual creativity, and a reflection of Abu Dhabi's and the UAE's leadership in the cultural field, and their support for creativity and knowledge, and their efforts to preserve and promote Arab heritage and traditions, which will serve as a bridge for future generations.' The Golden Story Award, launched by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Arabic Language in 2022, aims to promote Arab culture, support the presence of Arabic language, and revive it. The award seeks to honor local and international storytellers, narrators, and creators, and shed light on the art of oral storytelling, Emirati storytelling, and inspiring productions in this field, and to revive the art of folk storytelling, which is an essential part of Arab culture, and to present it in a contemporary and innovative way, highlighting the distinctiveness, beauty, and wisdom of our ancestors, and to support the transmission of this art to future generations. The award has achieved significant growth in the number of participating works, reaching 1,213 works from 34 countries, including 19 Arab countries, with a 23% increase from its first edition, which saw 983 participating works.
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