Featuring a Distinguished Lineup of Prominent Arab Figures in Media and the Arts
Shams Award for Arabic Content Announces Jury Members for Its Second Edition
Sharjah, January 8, 2026: Sharjah Media City (Shams) has announced the names of the jury members for the second edition of the Shams Award for Arabic Content. The jury brings together a distinguished group of leading Arab figures from the fields of media and the arts, reflecting the award’s growing stature and its role in supporting high-quality Arabic content, while reinforcing its position as a leading Arab platform for celebrating media creativity.
The jury panel includes artist Dr. Habib Ghloum, writer and film critic Tarek El Shennawy, actress Yara Sabri, media personality Malek Maktabi, and media professional Ahmed Salem Bin Samnouh. This diverse combination of expertise provides a well-rounded evaluative perspective, supporting the judging and assessment process according to the highest standards of professionalism and objectivity.
The second edition witnessed strong participation from content creators and creatives across the Arab world, with 1,210 submissions across eight main categories, including short films, podcasts, AI-generated content, unproduced screenplays, as well as Best Actor and Best Actress categories.
H.E. Rashid Abdullah Al Obad, Director General of Sharjah Media City (Shams), emphasized that selecting this distinguished group of jury members aligns with Shams’ vision to elevate evaluation standards, particularly given the increased competitiveness and broader participation in the award’s second edition.
He added that the award continues to develop its tracks and categories in line with the rapid transformations in the content industry, while strengthening the presence of young Arab talents, reaffirming Shams’ commitment to supporting media creativity and cultural industries.
This announcement comes as part of Shams’ preparations to reveal and honor the winners during a special ceremony scheduled to take place later this month.
