The sci-fi short story competition is open to writers aged 16 to 30 and entries can be in English or Arabic. Photo: Getty
The sci-fi short story competition is open to writers aged 16 to 30 and entries can be in English or Arabic. Photo: Getty
The sci-fi short story competition is open to writers aged 16 to 30 and entries can be in English or Arabic. Photo: Getty
The sci-fi short story competition is open to writers aged 16 to 30 and entries can be in English or Arabic. Photo: Getty

Sci-fi story competition announced for writers in the UAE


Maan Jalal
  • English
  • Arabic

The Emirates Literature Foundation on Thursday announced, in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, the launch of a science fiction short story competition for emerging authors in the UAE.

The MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi is open to writers in Arabic and English. The competition aims to inspire and foster a new generation of science fiction writers and to celebrate the writing talent and creative potential that already exists in the country.

“This is more than a platform for recognition, it’s a way to encourage writers to see their voices as vital contributors to a global conversation,” Ahlam Bolooki, chief executive of Emirates Literature Foundation, director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and managing director of ELF Publishing, tells The National.

“We’re creating a space for them to dream big, imagine boldly, and put their ideas out into the world. This award isn’t just about finding the best story – it’s about fostering a community of writers who can inspire one another, learn from one another, and grow together.”

Ahlam Bolooki, chief executive of Emirates Literature Foundation and director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, says there are strong connections between sci-fi and the UAE's journey. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National
Ahlam Bolooki, chief executive of Emirates Literature Foundation and director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, says there are strong connections between sci-fi and the UAE's journey. Photo: Chris Whiteoak / The National

Bolooki says the competition will also be about showing aspiring writers that their unique perspectives matter and that with the right support, their creativity and careers can thrive.

MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi is open to writers aged 16 to 30. They can enter original stories in English or Arabic, between 1,500 and 5,000 words long, until November 16. The initiative was announced on the second day of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which runs until February 3 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.

All entries will be read by a panel of judges, including a yet-to-be-announced renowned science fiction author. The short stories will be judged on originality, creativity, scientific accuracy, narrative strength, character development and overall literary merit.

The winners will be announced at next year’s Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, where they will receive a plaque, be enrolled for creative writing workshops and receive access to festival sessions. The winning stories will also be published in an anthology which will be launched at the 2027 festival.

Bolooki says the short story competition not only values bold ideas but will seek them out. “Sci-fi is such a powerful genre because it dares to imagine what the future could look like and challenges us to think beyond our current limitations,” she says. “It’s not just about fictional worlds; it’s about shaping real possibilities.”

Bolooki also adds that the genre is connected to the UAE's story. “For the UAE, a small country with truly big ambitions, sci-fi resonates deeply with our journey. We’ve accomplished extraordinary milestones, from the Hope Probe’s historic mission to Mars to our focus on building a thriving space industry that contributes to global advancements. These achievements represent a bold vision for the future – a vision that sci-fi is crucial. The genre not only complements the UAE’s innovative spirit but also inspires a new generation to see themselves as contributors to humanity’s story of exploration.”

While the ambitions of the genre and themes of science fiction are big, so too is the potential for what the competition can achieve for UAE writing community.

“This award isn’t just about science fiction – it’s about shaping the future of storytelling,” Bolooki says. “It’s an opportunity to use storytelling as a way to connect innovation with humanity, blending creativity with the real-world breakthroughs happening here in the UAE.”

For all competition details visit: www.elfdubai.org

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Like a Fading Shadow

Antonio Muñoz Molina

Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez

Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)

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SCORES

Yorkshire Vikings 144-1 in 12.5 overs
(Tom Kohler 72 not out, Harry Broook 42 not out)
bt Hobart Hurricanes 140-7 in 20 overs
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Navdeep Suri, India's Ambassador to the UAE

There has been a longstanding need from the Indian community to have a religious premises where they can practise their beliefs. Currently there is a very, very small temple in Bur Dubai and the community has outgrown this. So this will be a major temple and open to all denominations and a place should reflect India’s diversity.

It fits so well into the UAE’s own commitment to tolerance and pluralism and coming in the year of tolerance gives it that extra dimension.

What we will see on April 20 is the foundation ceremony and we expect a pretty broad cross section of the Indian community to be present, both from the UAE and abroad. The Hindu group that is building the temple will have their holiest leader attending – and we expect very senior representation from the leadership of the UAE.

When the designs were taken to the leadership, there were two clear options. There was a New Jersey model with a rectangular structure with the temple recessed inside so it was not too visible from the outside and another was the Neasden temple in London with the spires in its classical shape. And they said: look we said we wanted a temple so it should look like a temple. So this should be a classical style temple in all its glory.

It is beautifully located - 30 minutes outside of Abu Dhabi and barely 45 minutes to Dubai so it serves the needs of both communities.

This is going to be the big temple where I expect people to come from across the country at major festivals and occasions.

It is hugely important – it will take a couple of years to complete given the scale. It is going to be remarkable and will contribute something not just to the landscape in terms of visual architecture but also to the ethos. Here will be a real representation of UAE’s pluralism.

MATCH INFO

Newcastle United 1 (Carroll 82')

Leicester City 2 (Maddison 55', Tielemans 72')

Man of the match James Maddison (Leicester)

Overall standings

1. Christopher Froome (GBR/Sky) 68hr 18min 36sec,

2. Fabio Aru (ITA/AST) at 0:18.

3. Romain Bardet (FRA/ALM) 0:23.

4. Rigoberto Uran (COL/CAN) 0:29.

5. Mikel Landa (ESP/SKY) 1:17.

GIANT REVIEW

Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan

Director: Athale

Rating: 4/5

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

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Updated: January 30, 2025, 11:28 AM