Abdulla Al Hamed Honours Winners Of Inaugural ‘First Edition’ Programme At 35th Abu Dhabi International Book Fair
Mohammad Ali
(@ChaudhryMAli88)
Published September 15, 2026 | 04:45 PM
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM – 15th Sep, 2026) Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, Chairman of the National Media Authority (NMA), honoured the winners of the inaugural First Edition programme during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair.
The programme, launched by the Authority during the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair, aims to:
- Empower local content
- Support emerging Emirati talent
- Transform their first works into publications reaching readers
First Edition aligns with the Authority’s goals of developing an integrated ecosystem for Emirati content through partnerships with national publishing houses and comprehensive support for the publication of first works by Emirati talents.
Eligible categories include:
- Short stories
- Novels
- Poetry
- Children’s literature
- Creative writing
- Documentary studies
- Other fields
The initiative seeks to:
- Support the UAE’s creative economy and strengthen the publishing sector
- Enable Emirati creators to publish their first works with full funding
- Transform outstanding ideas into pioneering creative projects
- Enrich the UAE library with new works in literature and thought
Al Hamed stated:
"First Edition extends the UAE’s vision and the leadership’s directives to empower national talent and transform creativity into sustainable value contributing to building a diverse knowledge and creative economy."
He further added that supporting local content is an investment in people and Emiratis’ ability to produce knowledge and create content reflecting their society’s diversity.
Al Hamed highlighted First Edition‘s unique approach by providing creators with tools and support throughout their journey towards professionalism, fostering an integrated ecosystem from initial idea to publication.
Honouring the winners of the inaugural cycle marks the beginning of new creative journeys, according to Al Hamed, who expressed anticipation for these experiences to serve as launchpads for more diverse literary works.
