Sharjah: The Sharjah International Book Fair has announced that it is still accepting nominations for the 2026 Tarjuman Award. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Sharjah Book Authority has extended the nomination period until September 15th for this prestigious translation prize, which offers AED 1.4 million to its winners. The award ceremony is set to take place at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair’s opening event.
The Tarjuman Award is open to Arabic works, first published in translation between 2016 and 2026, that focus on intellectual, cultural, and creative fields inspired by Arab and Islamic civilizations. Its aim is to promote the global circulation of Arabic books and encourage their translation into new languages. Uniquely, the award is globally the first of its kind to simultaneously honor both foreign translations and the original Arabic works they derive from.
Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, highlighted the award’s role in enhancing the interaction between Arab culture and the global community. “A work translated into a new language broadens its audience and introduces it to new contexts,” he noted. This highlights the translator’s role in extending cultural discourse beyond linguistic confines. The award evaluates translations based on the significance and intellectual merit of the original Arabic work and the translation’s ability to effectively convey its concepts.
Al Ameri further emphasized that the award reflects the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, in protecting copyrights, ensuring high-quality translations, and supporting Arab publishers in reaching global readers. By dividing the award among the translator, Arab, and international publishers, it acknowledges each party’s contribution and fosters ongoing professional collaborations.
The distribution of the award’s monetary value assigns 910,000 dirhams to the foreign publisher, which is 65% of the total prize. The Arab publisher with the original rights receives 390,000 dirhams, making up 27.8%, while the translator of the awarded work is allocated 100,000 dirhams.