Emirates Literature Foundation, MBRSC Launch Short Story Award To Inspire Young Sci-Fi Writers

The Emirates Literature Foundation and Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) have launched the MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi.

The award aims to encourage young, aspiring science fiction writers in the UAE and give them with a platform to showcase their creativity. It is open to participants aged 16 to 30, inviting original short story submissions in English or Arabic, with a word count between 1,500 and 5,000 words. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 16.

"Science fiction has always had the unique ability to go beyond the impossible and inspired humanity to create and explore worlds that can be a reality in the future," Minister of State for Youth Affairs Dr. Sultan AlNeyadi was quoted as saying by WAM.

"The MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi encourages our youth to delve into these very possibilities of space and science, allowing them to craft stories that challenge perceptions and inspire innovation," he added.

Salem AlMarri, Director-General of the MBRSC, emphasized that inspiring the next generation and encouraging their imagination is key to innovation and progress, especially in space exploration.

"Inspiring the next generation and fostering their imagination is at the core of innovation and progress and is the foundation of our work in space exploration. Through the MBRSC Short Story Award: New Voices in Sci-Fi, we aim to empower young creators and thinkers to shape a future rooted in innovation and scientific advancement in space exploration," AlMarri said.

"Through our partnership with the Emirates Literature Foundation, we seek to create a nurturing environment that supports creativity and reinforces the UAE's commitment to enabling youth to actively contribute to our journey beyond the stars," AlMarri added.

The MBRSC Short Story Award was announced on Thursday during a press conference at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2025. The submitted stories will be judged by a panel of experts, including a well-known science fiction author.

Judges will assess the stories based on creativity, originality, scientific accuracy, narrative strength, character development, and overall quality. The winners will be announced at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2026 and will receive a commemorative plaque.

They will also get the chance to attend exclusive writing workshops, participate in festival sessions, and have their stories published in an anthology, which will be launched at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2027.