Sharjah: The UAE Board on Books for Young People (UAEBBY) has recognized the literary prowess of young writers by honoring the winners of its “Creative Writing Competition,” targeting participants aged between 6 and 18 years. The initiative, conducted over the summer, aimed to nurture and showcase the storytelling abilities of the country’s youth through Arabic narratives.
According to Emirates News Agency, the competition attracted 74 submissions from young writers across the UAE, comprising 34 male and 40 female students. Entries were categorized by age groups, with 16 submissions from children aged 6 to 9, 21 from those aged 10 to 12, and 37 from teenagers aged 13 to 18. Participants were encouraged to draw inspiration from their imagination, producing stories that reflect their creativity and writing skills.
In the 12-19 years old category, Saif Ahmed Jalal Shaaban, a seventh-grade student from Al Iman Private School in Abu Dhabi, was awarded for his story titled “My Special Octopus.” The recognition wa
s presented by Dr. Alyazia Khalifa, a member of the UAEBBY Advisory Board.
Majd Al Shehhi, another UAEBBY member, honored Zayed Ahmed Al Zaabi, a third-grader at Al Ittihad Private School, Jumeirah branch in Dubai, for his work “Alien Help Call” in the 6-9 years old category. Meanwhile, in the 13-18 years old category, Maryam Khaled Mohammed, a tenth-grade student at Falaj Al Mualla Girls Secondary School in Umm Al Quwain, was celebrated for her story “Lifebuoy.”
Marwa Al Aqroubi, President of UAEBBY, expressed satisfaction with the enthusiastic participation of UAE children and young people, noting the quality of the stories submitted. Al Aqroubi highlighted the competition as a reflection of the participants’ literary talents and their ability to transform imaginative ideas into compelling written narratives.