Chevron Readers’ Cup

The 2025–2026 edition of the Chevron Readers’ Cup, held on 22 January, tested comprehension, memory recall, mindful reading, and critical thinking, while promoting sportsmanship and collaboration. The competition recorded a landmark level of participation, with more than 5,000 students competing across 1,464 teams.

Teams competed in two age groups in both Arabic and English, with entries from across the GCC, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE. Following a rigorous selection process, 40 English-language teams and 40 Arabic-language teams were shortlisted for the highly competitive final rounds.

Winning teams received trophies for their schools, individual medals for team members, and Magrudy’s book vouchers valued at AED 1,000.

Chevron has sponsored the Readers’ Cup for fourteen years and was represented at the prize-giving ceremony by Muhammad Al Sadek, Commercial and Government Relations Manager who presented the trophies alongside representatives from the Emirates Literature Foundation.

Winners were announced as follows:

English
Primary Age Group – Novel Navigators, Pristine Private School, Dubai
Secondary Age Group – 4 Musketeers, Wesgreen International School (Girls), Sharjah

Arabic
Primary Age Group – Moonlight, St Mary Catholic High School, Oud Metha, Dubai
Secondary Age Group – Ambassadors of Pens, Falaj Al Moalla Secondary School for Girls, Cycle 2 and 3, Umm Al Quwain

The full list of winners can be found on the competition website.

Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi Letter Writing Competition

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi’s much-loved letter writing competition returned on 24 January, celebrating exemplary penmanship among young people across the UAE.

Students were invited to write a letter to someone special, exploring the theme ‘hope’ with submissions demonstrating both aesthetic quality and creative expression. A distinctive feature of this competition is its commitment to reviving the often-overlooked art of handwriting.

This year, 2464 students took part. Winners were awarded the opportunity to attend an exclusive meet-and-greet with bestselling children’s authors Lucy Strange and Nadia Al Najjar both featured in the Emirates LitFest 2026 programme.

Arabic entries were judged by Doha Khassawneh, Nadia Al Najjar and Shaikha Al Zeyara. English entries were assessed by Beverly Jatwani, Daniela Tully, Ebtisam Al-Beiti, Hilda Youssef, Kathy Urban and Saniya Chughtai.

Winners were announced as follows:

English:

Ages 8-10 – Agna Rose Sunny, Abu Dhabi Indian School, Muroor, Abu Dhabi
Ages 11-13 – Nuha Arafath, The Apple International School, Dubai
Ages 14–18 – Emirha Alyssandra Mendelebar, The Philippine School, Abu Dhabi

Arabic:

Ages 8-10 – Salma Jamal Hamed Hamed Al-Hanbali, Dar Al Marefa Private School, Dubai

Ages 11-13 – Salam Bashar Muzhir, Rosary School – Abu Dhabi

Ages 14–18 – Nafeesa Hamza, National Charity School – Dubai

Winner details have been published on the competition website.

Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition

A total of 7,027 students from the UAE and across the GCC competed in the Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition, held on 25 January, submitting original stories on the theme ‘hope’ for the opportunity to become published authors.

Shortlisted students had their work reviewed by a distinguished panel of authors. The English-language judging panel comprised April Hardy, Kathy Hoopmann, and Kathy Butti, while Arabic submissions were reviewed by Bashayer Al Atrouzi, Muhannad Al Akouse, and May Shabaklo.

English:

Ages 11 and Under – Saikrsna Srinath, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Dubai
Ages 12-14 – Ahan Punatham Kandy, Mayoor Private School, Abu Dhabi
Ages 15–18 – Lyn Mary Liju, Emirates Future International Academy, Abu Dhabi

Arabic:

Ages 11 and Under – Riman Yousef, Omar Bin Abdulaziz School Cycle 1, Ajman

Ages 12-14 – Noura Faleh Al Shammari, Al Khatim School, Abu Dhabi

Ages 15–18 – Abdulrahman Adel Al Suwaidi, Dubai National School – Al Twar, Dubai

Names of winners across all age categories are available on the competition website.

Al Futtaim Digital Storytelling Prize

The third Al Futtaim Digital Storytelling Competition, held on 26 January, invited students aged 12–18 to embrace contemporary storytelling by producing short-form vertical films inspired by their favourite Arabic book or poem.

From 48 submissions, three winning teams were selected by a judging panel drawn from the education and media sectors, including Mohamed Amine Khelil Cherfi, Mohammed Fathi, Nema Katranji and Shireen Sabanegh.

The Winning team, Al Ghaf Girls Team, Zayed Educational Complex – Al Dhait (Cycle 2 and 3), Ras Al Khaimah,  received a plaque, book voucher from Magrudy’s, and the opportunity to collaborate with a production studio.

Winner details are available on the competition website.

Book in a Box Project

Primary school classes from across the UAE participated in the Book in a Box Project, creating imaginative dioramas inspired by a book or a scene from a book using recycled materials.

From 354 submissions, 20 shortlisted works were selected for display at the Festival. These entries were evaluated by a judging panel comprising renowned illustrators John Patrick Green, Maitha Al Khayat, Petr Horáček, and Rachel Bright.

Three winners were recognised, each receiving a commemorative plaque and Magrudy’s book vouchers valued between AED 500 and AED 1,000.

The first place winner was Class 2A, Pristine Private School, Dubai

Winner details are published on the competition website.

Supporting National Priorities

Through these student competitions, the Emirates Literature Foundation continues to nurture creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression among young people, aligning closely with the UAE’s Year of Community (2025) and Year of Family (2026).

By bringing students, schools, educators, and families together around books and storytelling, the programme strengthens cultural connection, encourages shared learning experiences, and reinforces literature as a powerful tool for hope, dialogue, and belonging.