Khasab – Omani Society for Writers and Literati (OSWL) will celebrate outstanding literary and cultural achievements at its 14th annual awards ceremony on Wednesday. The event, held under the patronage of Sayyid Ibrahim bin Said al Busaidi, Governor of Musandam, will recognise winners across various categories.

The awards are divided into two main categories –  Cultural Achievement Award, which recognises cultural figures and projects that have significantly contributed to the cultural landscape, and Best Publications Award, acknowledging the top publications in the six designated fields evaluated by specialised committees.

The Best Publications Award, instituted in September 2023, spans six fields – short story, novel, popular poetry, historical studies, travel literature and children’s literature. Additionally, the Written Achiever Personality Award will honour writers with significant contributions to literature, culture and science.

This year, 78 publications are competing for the Best Publications Award, including 13 novels, 13 short story collections, six poetry collections, ten travel literature works, 22 historical studies and 14 children’s literature entries.

OSWL will honour notable figures and institutions for their contributions, including Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah al Harthi, for translating significant works on Omani history such as the Encyclopedia of Oman Secret Documents; Sheikh Hamood bin Hamad al Ghailani, for his dedication to documenting Omani maritime heritage; Sinaw Cultural Centre, for fostering creativity and talent in Sinaw; and the Sheikh Ahmed bin Ibrahim al Kamali Library, which is the first library and school in Khasab, for its cultural contributions.