Hedayat Reda Cairo, Egypt – May 19th, 2026
In a vibrant celebration of creativity set against the historic backdrop of Abdeen Palace, the second edition of Al Rawi Storyteller Award concluded with a grand awards ceremony honoring emerging Egyptian talent across the arts and content creation landscape. Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, the Ministry of Social Solidarity, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Ministry of Culture, the event reflects a growing national commitment to nurturing young voices and strengthening Egypt’s creative industries.
This year’s edition, organized in collaboration with TikTok LIVE, brought together public figures, industry leaders, and prominent names from the creative sector. Among the attendees was Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Chairman of the State Information Service (SIS), Dr. Ahmed Ghoneim, CEO of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), Dr. Ghada Waly, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Dr. Bahaa Salem, Group President of Al Salem Holding, Mohamed Farouk, Chairman and CEO of Mobica, Akef El-Maghraby, CEO and Managing Director of Suez Canal Bank, and Dr. Ahmed Moharram, Founder and Managing Director of Anchorage Investments.
Attendees also included leading names from entertainment and media, including Egyptian advertising pioneer Tarek Nour, Amr Youssef, Kinda Alloush, Heidy Karam, director Ramy Imam, presenter Abla Salama, producer Gamal El Adl, and producer Tarek El Ganainy, alongside a renowned group of artists and media personalities.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition, Al Rawi 2026 drew more than 1,000 participants from across Egypt, reflecting the depth and diversity of the country’s emerging creative scene. Winners were recognized across eight categories, with three entries awarded in each, bringing the total number of honorees to 24. The ceremony also featured the presentation of the EGP 1 million Exceptional Award, granted by Al Salem Holding to the entry deemed the most impactful and creatively distinguished.
In his remarks during the ceremony, Tarek Nour, Chair of the Jury, highlighted the outstanding quality of submissions, noting that this year’s entries reflect a rapidly evolving creative landscape in Egypt. He emphasized that supporting emerging talent is no longer optional, but essential to sustaining the country’s cultural influence and soft power.
Top honors across categories showcased a wide spectrum of storytelling and artistic expression.
In Photography, Ashraf Mohamed received first place for “Egyptian Hands,” while Mohamed Hamdan won in Digital Content for “Egypt Is More Than Just History.” Doaa Magd was recognized in Scriptwriting (Short Story) for “A Cup of Tea,” and Walaa Abou El Enein received top prize in Art for “Songs of the Place.”
Additional winners reflected the diversity of the competition, with Ahmed Abdallah awarded Best Long-Form Documentary for “The Dream of New Helwan,” Daniel George taking first place in Music for “30 North,” and Abanoub Reda recognized for Best Short Film with “No One Hunts Alone.” In the Culinary Video category, Youssef Yasser was awarded first place for his work “Choux Sha’reya Bellaban.” Finally, the EGP 1 million Exceptional Award was ultimately presented to Mona El Sabbahi for her novel “Tomorrow’s Story with Yesterday’s Flavor,” in recognition of its originality and creative impact.
Reflecting on the award’s continued growth, Lamia Kamel, Founder and Managing Director of CC Plus, Founder of the Narrative PR Summit, and Co-Founder of The Global Narrative, described Al Rawi as having evolved into a genuine platform for uncovering young Egyptian talent. She noted that this year’s submissions demonstrate a new generation equipped with modern storytelling tools and capable of presenting Egypt to the world through fresh and compelling perspectives.
Highlighting the importance of nurturing young voices, Hania Moussa, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at The Global Narrative and Board Member of the Narrative PR Summit, added that the second edition marked a significant step forward in both quality and diversity of submissions. She emphasized that Al Rawi is designed as a long-term platform to empower young creatives and provide them with space to express their identity and cultural narratives through art.
The jury panel for this year’s edition brought together more than 28 prominent figures from across the creative industries, led by Egyptian advertising pioneer Tarek Nour. Members included acclaimed actress Yousra, actor Amr Youssef, director Marwan Hamed, composer Hesham Nazih, screenwriter Mariam Naoum, writer Tamer Habib, novelist and screenwriter Ahmed Mourad, producer Mohamed Hefzy, and producer Tarek El Ganainy, alongside a wider group of experts in media, arts, and content creation.
Al Rawi 2026 is supported by a network of partners reflecting a shared commitment to advancing Egypt’s creative economy. e& Egypt and Suez Canal Bank joined as partners, while Al Salem Holding and Mobica served as sponsors, highlighting the private sector’s role in enabling and investing in the next generation of talent. Al Rawi Storyteller Award continues to position itself as a leading platform for discovering and amplifying Egyptian voices, reinforcing the country’s cultural identity while opening new pathways for creative expression on both regional and global stages.
