With the evolution of the cultural scene, the award did not stop at the idea of the 'book' as merely a printed product. Starting in 2017, it expanded its categories to include illustrators, in a step that recognizes that the image is a fundamental partner in a child's imagination. Mroua Al-Quroubi, Chairperson of the Emirates Publishers Association, stated that the 'International Prize for Arabic Children's Literature', since its launch in 2009, has sought to place Arabic children's literature in the place it deserves globally, and to confidently assert that stories published in Arabic are capable of competing with the best written for children in any other language.Over more than a decade, this idea has transformed into a growing cultural movement, from 47 participants from eight Arab countries in the first cycle to more than 300 participants annually from over 20 countries across the Arab world and the globe. Al-Quroubi confirmed that the award's goal from the beginning was to build a genuine creative space that reflects the Arab child as they are, and to give them stories in which they see themselves, their language, their feelings, and their reality within an honest narrative that befits their daily experience, and makes them feel that literature was indeed written for them. She added that the world of children today is no longer simple or limited in its questions, but has become more complex and intertwined, which makes them in need of stories that help them understand their surroundings, provide them with tools for reflection, interpretation, and balance, and open up broader horizons for them to see life and the possibilities they can reach. Al-Quroubi pointed out that the cultural vision in Sharjah stems from a firm belief that culture begins in childhood, and that investing in a child's imagination is an investment in a shared future, because imagination is the first seed of knowledge, awareness, the ability to imagine, and change. She continued: 'In each cycle, the award uncovers new voices and different ways of seeing the world, and reinforces the belief in the power of the Arabic language and its ability to carry stories with broad human significance,' noting that the story of the award continues and will always begin with a phrase reminiscent of the Arab childhood: 'Once upon a time...'. Over the past ten years, the award has honored more than 100 authors, illustrators, and publishers, and has contributed to stimulating the production of nearly 400 books for children and adolescents in the Arabic language.
