Arab prize offers £79k
21.05.09 Katie Coyne writing in The Bookseller

The Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum has launched a new children's book award with prize money of one million dirhams (about £79,000).
The Etisalat Prize for Arabic Children's Literature is open only to books written in Arabic. Translated titles will not be included.

The 2009 winner will be announced at the Sharjah World Book Fair in November.

And from Publishers Weekly:

Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum Comes to BEA

The Arab Children's Book Publishers Forum, headed by Sheikha Bodour Al Qassimi and one of the most significant organizations promoting Arabic literature among children, is participating in the upcoming Book Expo America. The Forum, which includes members from various Arab countries, will have 60 of its members at the trade show, where it will, among other things, have a book pavilion highlighting a selection of titles from each of its member countries.

At BEA the organization will also announce the new ETISALAT's Annual Award, for most distinguished Arabic children's book. The prize comes with a monetary award of one million dirham, and the first winner will be announced at the Sharjah World Book Fair in November 2009.