Green Pen contest draws 1,210 students from 122 schools

January 20, 2026 / 9:15 AM

Sharjah24: The Arabic Language Protection Association has closed registration for the Green Pen short-story writing competition, part of its cultural and educational project Green Reading, with 1,210 male and female students from 122 schools across the United Arab Emirates participating.

The competition was launched in collaboration with the Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) and the Ministry of Education, UAE, contributing to its wide circulation among schools and strengthening the presence of cultural initiatives within the educational environment.

Creative writing linked to environmental values

Writer Mohammed Shuaib Al Hammadi, Board Member of the Association and Head of the Competition, said the initiative forms part of the Green Reading project, a community-based programme that instils ethical values through creativity and agriculture. The project is supported by the Ministry of Culture, UAE, under the 2026 public benefit associations grants.

The competition encourages students to write short stories inspired by a plant or an environmental concept, transforming writing into a practical learning experience that fosters environmental awareness, sustainability and a love of the Arabic language.

Training workshops and nationwide reach

A specialised team of language, literature and education experts, led by Al Hammadi, delivered training workshops to enhance participants’ creative writing skills ahead of the evaluation stage.

Participating schools included 35 from Abu Dhabi, 34 from Sharjah, 15 from Dubai, 11 from Ajman, four from Umm Al Quwain, nine from Ras Al Khaimah, and 14 from Fujairah.