News DeskDubai, UAE – The fifth Young Voices of Arabia anthology was launched today at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, featuring stories by the 22 award-winning young authors from the 2024 edition of the Voices of Future Generations for the Middle East competition.
Hosting the event, Her Highness Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Goodwill Ambassador for Voices of Future Generations, welcomed HH Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, HH Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and more than 450 guests including dignitaries and VIPs, international authors, family, friends and supporters of the initiative.
Her Highness Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, President, and CEO of UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), has been a long-standing champion of youth empowerment and sustainability. Her presence at the ceremony reflects her commitment to nurturing young minds and supporting initiatives that combine education with environmental consciousness. As a leader who emphasizes the importance of engaging future generations in sustainability discourse, Her Highness’s attendance reinforces the significance of platforms, such as Voices of Future Generations, that amplify children’s voices in addressing global challenges.
Her Highness Sheikha Hissa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “I am so proud of these young storytellers who have shown us what it means to combine writing talent with an urge to protect our planet. This initiative is very close to my heart, and I want to thank everyone who has supported it over the years. A special thanks go to the children who pour their passion into their brilliant and important stories. Using fiction to drive change and create a better future for everyone, they are true ambassadors for planet Earth. Please read, listen, and amplify their voices.”
The Ceremony also featured the winning authors Lujain Wissam Al Halabi and Mohammed Hamdan Siddiqui, who read excerpts from their books in Arabic and English, and Emirati musician Zayed Mohamed Al Zaabi, who thrilled the audience with a rousing piano performance.
Speaking from the stage, previous winners reminded the audience that round 6 of the competition is currently open to story submissions in Arabic or English, welcoming entries from young writers residing in the region aged between 8 and 12. A new component in its 2025 edition is the Teacher Champion Awards; a special initiative to recognise the incredible efforts and dedication of educators who inspire the next generation of young writers and thinkers.
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of Emirates Literature Foundation, Director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, and Managing Director of ELF Publishing, expressed her gratitude to HH Sheikha Hissa, and said, “It is an honour to see this initiative and the seeds it has planted grow over the years. It is a delight to see the creativity and vision on display in the latest Young Voices of Arabia anthology. We recognise the instrumental role teachers have in fostering this creativity and passion for sustainability in students and championing the initiative in their schools. In the new phase, we look forward to formalising this recognition with its own award.”
Children were delighted to see the published anthology with the professionally edited and translated stories from the 2024 Voices of Future Generations Middle East competition in both Arabic and English. Inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the stories offer a glimpse into the authors’ visions for a brighter future. All stories are illustrated by gifted regional artists. The anthology is available as a digital download on the competition website, vofg.vofgarabia.org/books and physical copies can be purchased for AED 80 through the publisher’s website, elfpublishing.me.
To enter the competition, children should submit a story between 600 and 1,500 words, that explores the writer’s hopes and dreams for a sustainable future, incorporating at least one of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. The competition’s Teacher Champion Awards is new for 2025 and celebrates the people who inspire and support the next generation of sustainability-fuelled young writers. The Teacher Champion Programme offers ample opportunities for growth, including networking opportunities, professional development sessions, and cash prizes. More details and entry guidelines for both students and educators can be found on the Voices of Future Generations website.
The event took place at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, one of the top literary festivals in the world and the biggest celebration of stories in the Arab region, which concludes on 3 February 2025, after bringing together almost 200 of the world’s greatest writers and thinkers at the InterContinental Festival City.
The Festival is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, with Founding Partners Emirates Airline and Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority for heritage, arts, and culture.
