MBRSC Short Story Award 2026 for Science Fiction Writers in the UAE

The Emirates Literature Foundation, in partnership with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), offers the New Voices in Sci-Fi award, a science fiction short story competition designed to discover new voices and encourage writers to create stories exploring themes such as space exploration, time travel, artificial intelligence, future technologies, and imagined worlds. Stories may be submitted in Arabic or English and must be original and unpublished, with a length of 1,500 to 2,500 words. Entries are divided into three age categories: 16–21 years, 22–30 years, and 31 years and above.

First-place winners in each age category in both Arabic and English receive a cash prize and an award plaque, a visit to the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, opportunities to meet astronauts, participation in creative writing workshops, attendance at Emirates LitFest 2027 events, and recognition at the Emirates Literature Festival 2027 awards ceremony.

Applicants must be residents of the United Arab Emirates, be aged 16 or older, and may have any level of writing experience.

Submit one original, unpublished short story in Arabic or English (1,500–2,500 words) by the specified deadline; each applicant may submit only one story; no AI-written entries accepted; shortlisted participants must attend the awards ceremony in Dubai at their own expense.