Doha: The Ministry of Culture has announced the opening of nominations for the Doha International Book Fair Award, from Jan. 17 to 1 March. The award is designed to highlight the influence of the Doha International Book Fair in promoting the publishing industry on both local and international stages.

According to Qatar News Agency, the award aims to encourage publishing houses to prioritize knowledge-based content, cultural diversity, and high standards of artistic and technical production. It also seeks to inspire authors towards greater creativity in various knowledge fields, support young authors, and foster a spirit of competition, dialogue, and exchange among participants.

The nominations must adhere to specific terms and criteria across various categories. Publishing houses and authors are required to comply with intellectual property laws and submit their publications in digital format via the award's official website, showcasing excellence in artistic production and diversity in content.

The award includes eight categories, each with specific eligibility criteria and prize values. The Qatar Publishing Excellence Award is open to Qatari publishers with a valid publishing license and requires membership in the Qatari Publishers and Distributors Forum. Applicants must have published at least twenty new titles in the nomination year, with a prize value of QAR 30,000.

The International Publishing Excellence Award is available to international publishers with similar requirements and a minimum of thirty new titles released, also valued at QAR 30,000. The Distinguished Qatari Publisher for Children's Books Award and the Distinguished International Publisher for Children's Books Award focus on children's literature, with specific criteria and prize values of QAR 30,000 each.

The Distinguished Publisher for Translation Award recognizes excellence in translation by Qatari publishers, requiring translations from Arabic into other languages, with a prize value of QAR 30,000. The Creative Writer Award and Creative Young Qatari Writer Award encourage authors to participate with individually authored books, offering prize values of QAR 20,000 each.

The Best Pavilion Award at the 35th Doha International Book Fair recognizes outstanding pavilion design, offering a comprehensive cultural experience, with a prize value of QAR 40,000.