Sharjah Translation Award (Turjuman) — Cultural Exchange

Turjuman is an annual Sharjah Book Authority award that promotes Arabic literature internationally through translation. It recognizes the translator, the foreign publisher of the translation, and the Arab publisher of the original work.

Publishing houses submit a first-edition translation together with the original Arabic title. The latest detailed official cycle found was 2024; the current award page provides no live application deadline or form, so this listing is marked as reopening.

Benefits & funding

The total prize for the 2024 cycle was AED 1.4 million.
The translator receives AED 100,000.
The foreign publisher of the translation receives 70% of the remaining prize, while the Arab publisher of the original receives 30%.

Eligibility

Arab and international publishing houses may enter.
The submitted work must be a first-edition translation of an original Arabic book into another language.
No nationality, residency, age, experience, gender, or degree requirement is published; the applicant is a publishing house rather than an individual.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

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We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

1
Check the official SIBF award page when the next cycle opens.
2
Register the publishing house and the translated title through the official award route.
3
Send four printed copies of the translated book and one copy of the original Arabic book.
4
Provide a summary of no more than 500 words in Arabic or the translation language, plus proof of intellectual-property rights and documents establishing lawful translation, publication, and distribution.

Program timeline

Most recently documented application deadline.
Aug 31, 2024
Winners of the seventh cycle were honored at the opening of the 43rd Sharjah International Book Fair.
Nov 6, 2024