The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in Oman concluded the 2026 Child Culture Award on October 4 at the Ministry of Information Theatre in Muscat, celebrating young talents from Oman and the Arab region. The event was held under the patronage of Basil bin Ahmed al Rawas, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, with support from OQ.
Malak al Wahaibi secured first place in the ‘Speak So I Can See You’ competition, which drew 300 submissions from children aged 7 to 12. The entries focused on themes of energy, sustainability, and innovation. After a selection process that narrowed the field to 50 contestants and eventually five finalists, al Wahaibi emerged as the winner. Al Ghaliya al Abri took second place, followed by Iyad al Waeli, Safiya al Shehhi, and Fawaz al Hatmi in third, fourth, and fifth places, respectively.
A four-member jury, headed by Omar al Ansari, assessed the submissions. Notably, Egyptian stage actress Doaa Mohammed Hamza joined the panel for the first time as an international judge. Malak al Zaidi, the winner of the 2022 award, also participated as a trainee judge, underscoring the program’s focus on nurturing both participants and mentors.
In his remarks, Ahmed al Rawahi, Assistant Director-General of Knowledge and Cultural Development and Director of the Muscat International Book Fair, highlighted the award’s growth since its inception in 2021. He emphasized its role as a platform for discovering young talent and fostering creativity and writing among children. Al Rawahi further noted increased regional participation in recent years, with entrants from Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Yemen, and Sudan, reflecting the award’s cultural resonance throughout the Arab world. He described the award not as an end point but as a beginning, symbolizing a commitment to a more creative future for Oman.
In addition to the competition, the ‘Oman Tells Stories’ contest recognized five women writers selected from 96 entries. Honorees Tufool al Sarmi, Khadija al Mufarji, Sara al Farsi, Aisha al Farsi, and Wafa al Rashdi were acknowledged without ranking. Their stories presented young readers with portraits of prominent Omani cultural figures, including former Oil and Minerals Minister Sheikh Saeed al Shanfari, broadcaster Mona al Mundhari—the first woman to declare “This is Oman” on air in 1971—and Salim al Suri, a pioneer of Gulf music.
The ministry plans to publish the winning stories in five books with English translations, scheduled for release and signing at the 2027 Muscat International Book Fair. Since its launch, the Child Culture Award has published six books and honored 18 children’s writers across six editions.
The award ceremony also featured the opening of the ‘Oman Tells Stories’ art exhibition and a performance of the operetta ‘The Word Is the Path to the Summit,’ enriching the cultural festivities surrounding the event.