Egyptian writer Mohamed Salmawy named 'Cultural Personality of the Year' for Sharjah Book Fair

In recognition of a distinguished literary career spanning over five decades, the Sharjah Book Authority (SBA) has selected the renowned Egyptian writer, poet, and playwright Mohamed Salmawy as the “Cultural Personality of the Year” for this year’s Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2025).

This prestigious designation celebrates his outstanding impact on Arab theatre, literature, and culture, and Salmawy stands as a leading voice in Egypt and the wider Arab world. Through his prolific creativity, insightful theatrical and narrative works, and analytical thought-pieces in various renowned publications, he has become a defining figure in contemporary Arabic thought-leadership, playing an important role in advancing the Arab cultural and intellectual spheres.

His acclaimed body of work has found a global audience, with translations published in English, French, Italian, German, Romanian, Hindi, and Urdu, and his plays staged across Europe and North America. Salmawy's novels, in particular, have garnered significant critical and popular praise for their intellectual depth and their insightful reflection of the realities and transformations within Arab society.

Throughout his professional career, Salmawy has been a central figure in Egyptian and Arab cultural life, demonstrated through key leadership roles such as the Presidency of the Egyptian Writers’ Union for over a decade, and as Editor-in-Chief of Al-Ahram Hebdo, and Al-Ahram Weekly, publications instrumental in presenting Arab culture to a global audience. An additional testament to his standing, the Nobel Laureate Naguib Mahfouz personally selected him as his representative at the 1988 award ceremony in Stockholm.

His distinguished career has been recognised with numerous international honours, including France's Order of Arts and Letters (Knight), Italy's Order of Merit, Belgium's Order of the Crown, and the Grand Peace Prize of Senegal, in addition to Egypt's highest literary accolades: the State Appreciation Award and the Nile Award in Literature.

Sharjah’s continued celebration of Arab cultural figures

Commenting on the announcement, Ahmed Bin Rakkad Al Ameri, CEO of the Sharjah Book Authority, said: “Honouring Mohamed Salmawy reflects Sharjah’s ongoing commitment to recognising Arab cultural figures who have shaped public thought and contributed to the region’s literary output. Through his plays and novels, he has made a lasting impact on contemporary Arab culture, and this aligns deeply with the values of SIBF, which views culture as both an enlightening force and a shared social responsibility.

“This year, we celebrate a figure who has combined literary talent with cultural leadership, and who has expressed the Arab experience with clarity and insight. Salmawy’s work affirms that Arab culture engages the world through art, ideas, and shared humanity,” Al Ameri added.

An honour that inspires hope

For Salmawy, the award is more than a personal honour; it is a validation of a cultural mission, and stated: “When recognition comes from Sharjah, it carries particular weight. Over recent decades, the emirate has established itself as a key supporter of culture rooted in Arab national identity, particularly during a period marked by significant challenges. Sharjah’s consistent recognition of Arab figures reaffirms the value of our cultural choices. It renews hope that the region can recover and rebuild through a genuine foundation that remains central to our collective identity.”

Born in Cairo in 1945, Mohamed Salmawy attended the prestigious Victoria College, an institution known for educating many of the Arab world's most prominent figures. His academic path is marked by a diverse and international range of studies: acquiring a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature from Cairo University, a Masters in Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo, and a Diploma in Shakespearean Theatre from Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

After returning to Egypt, he began his career as a university lecturer before being recruited by the renowned journalist Mohamed Hassanein Heikal to join Al-Ahram newspaper, where he remains a columnist today. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board for the independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm.

As a playwright, Salmawy left a defining mark on modern Arab theatre in the final decades of the 20th century with acclaimed works like ‘Come Back Tomorrow,’ ‘Salame,’ ‘The Chain,’ and ‘The Killer Outside the Prison.’ His narrative power is equally evident in novels such as ‘The Colored Beads,’ the prescient ‘Butterfly Wings’ which anticipated Egypt’s ‘January Revolution’ in 2011, and "Flower of Fire," a poignant portrayal of a generation challenging boundaries.