Kalayaan 2026 at Dubai World Trade Centre on June 7, 2026. EXPAT MEDIA

A national writing competition championed by UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan is giving residents an opportunity to turn their personal experiences into published stories while celebrating the values that unite the country’s diverse communities. Speaking at Kalayaan 2026 in Dubai on Sunday (June 7), Sheikh Nahyan highlighted the impact of the “What the UAE Means to Me” competition and singled out Filipino participants for the heartfelt reflections they submitted. “I was genuinely moved by the contributions that members of your community made to our ‘What the UAE Means to Me’ writing competition,” Sheikh Nahyan said. “What touched me most was the fact that those reflections were written by people who have built their lives here in the UAE.” He said the entries reflected values that resonate strongly with the UAE. “These writings expressed values that the UAE appreciates: love of family, dedication to work, resilience in difficulty, generosity of spirit and joy in community.” The initiative was organized by Sandooq Al Watan in partnership with the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence as part of activities linked to the UAE’s Year of the Community last year. Participants were invited to submit stories, essays, poems, letters and personal reflections in either Arabic or English about their experiences living in the UAE. During the competition’s launch, Sheikh Nahyan encouraged residents to take part regardless of their background. “You can write a short story, a poem, a letter, or even an essay,” he said. “Your stories matter, and the rest of us would love to hear from you.” The competition was open to citizens and residents aged six and above, with submissions categorized according to age groups.

New approach to recognizing participants

While the original guidelines indicated that winners would be announced during the Human Fraternity Festival in February 2026, organizers later revised the recognition process. Instead of naming only a handful of winners through a traditional ranking system, a technical committee began reviewing submissions on a rolling basis. Accepted entries became eligible for financial grants, with participants aged 6 to 12 receiving Dh250, those aged 13 to 18 receiving Dh500, and adults receiving Dh1,000. Organizers also shifted the focus toward publication, with selected works being translated and compiled into Arabic and English anthologies that showcase the stories and experiences of people living in the UAE. The revised awarding process came during a period of regional instability that affected various public programmes and events. Organizers said the competition was designed to capture the experiences of people from different cultures and backgrounds who have made the UAE their home. By collecting personal stories from citizens and residents, the initiative aims to preserve a record of how people experience the UAE’s values of tolerance, coexistence and community spirit. For Sheikh Nahyan, the Filipino entries demonstrated exactly why the project matters. In a country that is home to people from more than 200 nationalities, he said, stories have the power to strengthen understanding, highlight shared values and reinforce the sense of belonging that many residents feel in the Emirates. PIA/CAM/Expat Media
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