The next generation of writing talent, the winners of the Oxford University Press (OUP) Story Writing Competition, have been honoured at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (3-13 February 2022) in a special prizegiving ceremony. The annual competition is a fixture of the academic calendar with more than 3,700 students from the UAE sending in their entries this year. The competition runs in Arabic and English and is divided into age-specific categories: 11 and under, 12-14, 15-17 and 18-25. Each winner received a book containing their original short stories and a winner’s plaque. Presenting the awards at the ceremony were 2022 Festival authors Ali Sparkes and Nadia Al Najjar.
Students were invited to write their stories prompted by this year’s Festival theme: ‘Here Comes the Sun’
Students were invited to write their stories prompted by this year’s Festival theme: ‘Here Comes the Sun’. Jennifer Duggan, Oxford University Press, said: “Looking forward to a brighter tomorrow was the perfect sentiment for this year’s competition, beautifully encapsulated by the phrase ‘Here Comes the Sun’. We were uplifted by the many ‘feel good’ variations on the theme, capturing the imaginations of the students who entered. We are proud to give our continued support to young writers through this competition and we hope it leads to many of them continuing to write in the years to come.”
OUP Winners – English
11 and under:
- Lila Jones from Jebel Ali School, Dubai
- Siya Menon from Our Own English High School, Dubai
- Tied in shared third place: Hannah Main Garcia from Dubai English Speaking School, Dubai, and Lana Al Khafaji from Dubai English Speaking School, Dubai
12- 14
- Alula Grace Marsh from South View School, Dubai
- Farah Makni from Brighton College Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
- Gianne Eva Mathias from Dubai Scholars Private School, Dubai
15-17
- Anyka Chakravarty from Gems Wellington International School, Dubai
- Dimira Tanna from Ambassador School, Dubai
- Chelsie Murielle Manalo Alcantara from Pristine Private School, Dubai
18-25
- Bee Blake from Repton School, Dubai
- Ishrath Tabassum Jaigirdar from the University of Sharjah
- Mahrukh S. M. From the American University of Sharjah
OUP Winners – Arabic:
- and under:
- Tied in first place: Salim Arif Alsulaiman from Al Rashed Alsaleh Private School, Dubai and Hussein Nidal Hasan Awad from Al Shola Private School, Sharjah
- Sara Owaily from Al Mawakeb Private School Garhoud, Dubai
- Mohammad Yehya Farooq from Cambridge International School, Dubai
12-14
- Jana Omar Harb Alqaryouti from Dubai National School Al Twar, Dubai
- Rita Hussein from Al Mawakeb Private School Garhoud, Dubai
- Haifa Omar Saado from Al Rashed Al Saleh Private School, Dubai
15-17
- Rashed Saeed Saaed Alhabsi from Higher Technology College, Ras Al Khaimah
- Lara Zaid Qasim from Al Mawakeb Private School Al Barsha, Dubai
- Jana Imad from Liwa International School, Abu Dhabi
18-25
- Sheikha Hamad Al Rahmani from Sharjah University
- Noor Imad Idlbi from Umm Al Emarat High School, Abu Dhabi
- Saeed Aswad Anbar Alamri from Higher Technology College, Abu Dhabi
The competition entries in English were judged by Kathleen Butti, April Hardy, Kathy Hoopmann and Rehan Khan. Competition entries in Arabic were judged by Nadia Al Najjar, Muhannad Al Akouse, Sana Shabbani and Manea Al Maeni.
The Festival programme is brimming with sessions to engage, entertain and inform
The Festival programme is brimming with sessions to engage, entertain and inform, with topics encompassing fiction, history, current affairs, food, health, travel, biography, business and more. There are opportunities to appreciate poetry, take part in creative writing workshops and generally indulge in intelligent and articulate discussion on a wide range of topics. Sessions appeal to all ages and nationalities, featuring outstanding authors, thinkers and opinion formers.