The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation announced that the door for nominations for its 12th session 2010-2011 is now open; nominations may be submitted as of 20th April and until 28th February 28, 2011.
The Foundation has already commenced sending application forms to Arab universities, institutions, associations, unions and other cultural and literary entities to ensure that they are available to candidates all over the Arab world. Application forms can also be requested from the institution directly, or by visiting the Foundation’s website: http://www.alowaisnet.org/en/nominationform/.
Universities, cultural institutions, and literary and cultural unions and associations may submit their nominations for the awards - and, as provided in the rules and regulations of the Foundation - creative authors and scholars are entitled to nominate themselves through direct submission to the General Secretariat. Five Arab authors are also entitled to nominate authors and scholars they believe deserve the award. 
The total prize money amounts to US$600,000; US$120,000 for each of the following fields:
• Poetry.
• Short story, novel, and drama.
• Literary studies and criticism.
• Humanitarian and futuristic studies.
• Cultural and scientific achievement award.
It is worth noting that Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Mubarak (the mother of the UAE) received the cultural and scientific achievement award in its 11th session. Other award receiptients for the same session included: Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Maqaleh: poetry; Al Taher Wattar: short story, novel and drama; Dr. Abdul Salam Al Masdi: literary studies and criticism; and Dr. Jalal Ameen: humanitarian and futuristic studies. 
To date, these prizes have been awarded to 68 creative Arabs, and the jury has included some 150 scholars and consultants of good conscience and with varrying cultural orientations.