The Ministry of Culture in Doha, Qatar has announced an exciting new competition for publishers and writers that will be taking place during the 33rd Doha International Book Fair (DIBF). This competition aims to celebrate and support the achievements of publishers and writers participating in the fair, with awards being offered in several categories. These include Outstanding Publisher (Local and International), Outstanding Publisher in Children’s Books (Local and International), Creativity Award for Writers, and Young Qatari Writer Award.
Director of DIBF Jassim Ahmed Al Buainain highlighted that the main goal of this competition is to strengthen the publishing industry and create a vibrant literary community. The competition is open to publishers, creatives, writers, and intellectuals, with the hope of inspiring authors to continue their work and encouraging young writers to enter the literary field. Ultimately, the competition aims to promote a culture of reading, writing, and authorship among the Qatari community.
During the 34th edition of the book fair, the winners of this competition will be announced. Moving forward, each edition of the fair will reveal the winners of the previous year’s competition. In terms of prizes, the total amount up for grabs is 160,000 Qatari Riyals, which will be distributed among the winners. The breakdown of the prize money includes 30,000 Qatari Riyals for the winner of the Outstanding Publisher (Local) category, 30,000 Qatari Riyals for the Outstanding Publisher (International), 30,000 Qatari Riyals for the Outstanding Publisher in Children’s Books (Local), and 30,000 Qatari Riyals for the same category (International). Additionally, there will be 20,000 Qatari Riyals allocated for the Creativity Award for Writers and 20,000 Qatari Riyals for the Young Qatari Writer Award.
This competition presents a wonderful opportunity for publishers, writers, and creatives to showcase their work and be recognized for their contributions to the literary world. By offering substantial prize money and honoring winners across various categories, the Ministry of Culture hopes to incentivize individuals to continue creating and sharing their stories. This competition also serves as a platform to inspire young writers in Qatar to pursue their passion for writing and to become future leaders in the literary community.
Overall, the Ministry of Culture’s decision to introduce this competition during the Doha International Book Fair demonstrates their commitment to promoting and supporting the publishing industry in Qatar. By providing a space for publishers and writers to showcase their work and compete for prestigious awards, the Ministry is playing a key role in fostering a vibrant literary culture in the country. This initiative will not only encourage creativity and innovation within the publishing industry but will also help to attract new talent and inspire the next generation of writers in Qatar.
