Amman, 15 January 2026 –Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, the cultural and social responsibility arm of Arab Bank, has opened submissions for the 20th Abdul Hameed Shoman Children’s Literature Award.
This year’s theme, “Story: Childhood, a World of Challenges,” focuses on the difficulties children face; such as fear, loneliness, anger, learning, and jealousy, and how they overcome them, whether through determination or help from others. Stories should be engaging, imaginative, and educational for children aged six and above.
The award offers a unique opportunity for Arab writers to showcase their creativity and storytelling skills, crafting original stories that connect directly with children. Submissions should use an attractive narrative style and language suitable for readers aged six and above.
Eligibility requirements include:
• Applicants must be Arab or of Arab origin.
• Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
• Works must be written in clear, standard Arabic and must be original; not translated, adapted, or previously published in newspapers, magazines, websites, or printed books.
• The work should not have been submitted to another award or have previously won a prize.
The story must target children aged six and older and adhere to specific formatting rules:
• Use correct Arabic language.
• Word count: 450–600 words.
• Font: Arial, size 14.
A specialized jury plays a key role in the award’s success, reviewing all entries according to strict criteria that include creativity, language and style, content and ideas, innovation, and originality. This ensures that the selected stories are impactful and inspiring for both children and writers.
The jury has announced that the deadline for submissions is 31 March 2026. Interested applicants can view detailed requirements and guidelines on the Foundation’s website: https://shoman.org/Writers-Award.
The award is presented annually in one of the following children’s literature forms: story, poetry, novel, or theatrical text for children. Winners receive a certificate with their name and literary category, a trophy featuring the award’s name and logo, and a total prize of 18,000 Jordanian Dinars, distributed as follows:
• First place: 10,000 JD
• Second place: 5,000 JD
• Third place: 3,000 JD
Since 2006, the Foundation has organized this award annually to encourage creativity and innovation in Arab children’s literature, supporting cultural and intellectual development across the Arab world.