Shams Award for Arabic Content Opens Registration for Its Third Edition
Sharjah, July 2, 2026: Sharjah Media City (Shams) has announced the opening of registration for the third edition of the Shams Award for Arabic Content, inviting creators, content producers, and media professionals from across the Arab world to participate. The initiative is part of Shams’ ongoing efforts to support Arab talent, enhance the quality of Arabic content, and foster media creativity across various platforms.
The award is one of Shams’ flagship initiatives designed to celebrate creativity and provide a competitive platform that keeps pace with the rapid evolution of content creation and media production. It also aims to empower emerging Arab talents and help them reach regional and international professional standards. In its current edition, the award introduces three new categories that reflect the growing diversity of creative media fields.
On this occasion, Rashid Abdullah Al Obad, Director General of Sharjah Media City (Shams), stated that the move aligns with the award’s vision of keeping pace with the rapid transformations in digital media and content creation while broadening its scope to embrace various forms of creativity.
He said: “The Shams Award for Arabic Content continues to strengthen its position as a platform that supports creators and content producers across the Arab world, inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, to promote culture, creativity, and empower Arab talents. Through this edition, we seek to keep pace with the rapid developments in digital media and artistic production. The introduction of new award categories reflects this direction and demonstrates our commitment to diversifying the award’s fields in line with the evolving content industry and the interests of Arab audiences.”
He added: “At Shams, we believe that Arabic content has tremendous potential to compete on a global scale. Therefore, we are committed to providing an environment that celebrates creativity and offers content creators a genuine opportunity to showcase their work according to the highest professional and artistic standards.”
The 2026 edition introduces three new award categories: Best TV Series Screenwriter, Best Original Score for a TV Series or Film, and Best Creative Advertisement. These are in addition to the existing categories of Best Short Film, Best AI-Generated Video, Best Content Creator, Best Podcast, as well as Best Actor of 2026 and Best Actress of 2026. The expanded categories reflect the award’s commitment to recognizing excellence across drama production, digital content creation, creative media, and artistic performance while keeping pace with the latest developments in the Arab media industry.
Submission and Evaluation Process
Applications can be submitted through the award’s dedicated online platform at www.shamsaward.ae, starting July 2, 2026. The submission period will close on October 1, 2026.
Entries will be evaluated based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including originality of the idea, innovation, cultural and social impact, artistic and technical excellence, and adherence to the positive values of Arabic content. A specialized jury comprising leading experts and professionals in media and artistic production will review all submissions and select the winners according to the highest professional standards.
The Shams Award for Arabic Content reaffirms its commitment to supporting the Arabic content industry and strengthening the competitiveness of Arab media at both regional and international levels by providing a professional platform that celebrates creativity and empowers Arab talents across media, artistic production, and digital content creation.
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