List of awarded pioneers
1 – Abdul Hamid Ahmad – First President of Emirates Writers Union
2 – Habib Al Sayegh – First Emirati elected as Secretary General of Arab Writers Union
3 – Sultan Al Owais (deceased) – First Emirati to establish novel award in art and intellect in 1987
4 – Dubai Public Library – First public library founded in 1963
5 – Hafsa Surour – 6-year-old, youngest writer
6 – Abu Dhabi International Book Fair – First book fair in the UAE
7 – Maitha Al Mosaferi – Best mum supporting reading initiatives, by setting up workshops and activities
8 – Ministry of Interior – Best federal entity encouraging reading among its social responsibilities – Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed was honoured
9 – Sharjah International Book Fair – Biggest book fair across the Arab region
10 – Salama Secondary School – Best public school encouraging reading among students
11 – Ayoub Yousuf – Best personality and social media influencer encouraging people to read
12 – Fujairah Natural Resources Organisation – Best local entity encouraging reading in Fujairah
13 – UAE University – Best educational library encouraging reading among students
14 – Sharjah TV – Best content promoting reading among all society
15 – Dr Jamal Sanad Al Suwaidi - Director General of the Emirates Centre for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR)
16 – Etisalat – Best private entity initiative for encouraging children to read
17 – Sama TV – Best TV channel promoting and encouraging reading
18 – Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) – Best national initiative encouraging reading
19 – Asma Al Motawae – Best individual initiative encouraging reading
20 – Dubai Water and Electricity Authority – Best national initiative encouraging reading among its social responsibilities
21 – Knowledge Without Borders – Best national initiative encouraging reading in Sharjah
22 – Economic Development Directorate – Best national entity encouraging reading in Ras Al Khaimah
23 – Ministry of Education – Best federal initiative encouraging students to read
24 – Al Khaleej Newspaper – Best print media promoting reading initiatives
25 – Emirates Airline and Google – Best initiative for private sector in encouraging reading
26 – Telecommunications Regulatory Authority – Best federal entity encouraging reading among its employees
27 – Scientific Research School in Dubai – Best private school encouraging reading
28 – Abu Dhabi TV – TV Show ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ – Best show encouraging reading
29 – The UAE Board on Books for Young People – Best NGO encouraging reading among youth
30 – Australian International School in Sharjah – Best private school that has rich books in library encouraging reading among its students
31 – Emirates Literature Foundation – Best NGO promoting reading initiatives
32 – Saif Gobash – ‘Kalima Project’ – Best institution supporting publishing children books
33 – Shaika Ahmad Mohammad Abdul Rahman – Best teacher encouraging reading among students
34 – Al Emarat Al Youm newspaper – Best print media encouraging reading among children
35 – Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development – Best federal entity on encouraging reading initiatives (Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak honoured)
36 – Ali Abu Al Reesh – One of the most prominent Emirati novelists and writers (among top 100 Arab writers)
37 – Heritage and Artefacts Directorate – Best national initiative encouraging reading in Umm Al Quwain
38 – Al Ittihad Newspaper – Best print media supporting strategic initiatives
39 – Road and Transport Authority – Best national entity encouraging reading in Dubai
40 – Dr Hamad Al Hammadi – Emirati writer and novelist – his novel ‘Ritaj’ was featured as a TV drama series called ‘Kheyanet Watan’ aired in Ramadan 2016 on Abu Dhabi TV
41 – Ministry of Health – Best federal entity encouraging reading at early age among children
42 – Al Bayan Newspaper – Best print media covering reading initiatives
43 – Zayed University – Best educational initiative encouraging reading
44 – Ajman Real Estate Regulatory – Best national entity encouraging reading
45 – Safia Al Shehi – Best Media Personality – Presenter of ‘Abu Dhabi Reads’ TV Show, aired on Abu Dhabi TV
