The Sharjah Government opened submissions for the 13th Sharjah Government Communication Award on September 7, with a new category targeting artificial intelligence and a scoring system that rewards AI integration across all entries. Organisations and individuals have until September 22, 2026, to submit work for more than 35 awards, a window that signals urgency for communication teams wanting international recognition for projects that show measurable results.
The award, run by the Sharjah Government Media Bureau, comes off a 2025 cycle that drew more than 2,600 submissions from 37 countries. Over 600 entries passed initial screening, and 170 reached final evaluation. Past finalists included Tuvalu's digital nation project, youth entrepreneurship programmes in Nigeria, and an AI platform linking experts across Africa and the United States.
A new AI category and a scoring incentive
For the first time, the award introduces a category called Best Use of Artificial Intelligence in Government and Institutional Communication. Entries in any other category can also earn up to 10 per cent in additional points for effective AI use. The jury will assess how AI was applied in planning, implementation, and results evaluation - including whether it improved content quality, audience understanding, or communication efficiency.
The competition spans government and international organisations, the private sector, individual achievements, smart communication competitions, jury awards, and partner awards. A new subcategory, Best Campaigns Promoting Emirati Identity, has also been added this cycle.
What the jury is looking for
The Sharjah Government Media Bureau said it wants initiatives that demonstrate not only communication effectiveness but also tangible change - who benefited and whether the impact can be sustained. The emphasis on outcomes means entries need to show evidence of real-world results rather than activity metrics alone. AI use will be evaluated at every stage: planning, execution, and measurement.
A growing international platform
The award's international footprint has expanded steadily. The jump from regional participation to 37 countries reflects a broader appetite for benchmarking government and institutional communication against global standards. For AI for PR & Communications professionals, the competition offers a rare window into how governments worldwide are operationalising AI in public-facing work.
Media relations specialists who want to understand how AI fits into government communication frameworks can explore structured approaches through resources like the AI for Media Relations Specialists learning path. The award categories themselves - from smart communication competitions to institutional AI use - mirror the skill areas that training programmes are now building out.
Why this matters for PR and communications professionals
The 10 per cent AI scoring bonus changes the calculation for anyone entering a communications award in 2026. It means AI integration is no longer a nice-to-have differentiator - it is a structural advantage baked into the judging criteria. Teams preparing submissions for Sharjah or similar competitions should document how AI tools were used at each stage of a campaign, from audience analysis to content adaptation and impact measurement, and be ready to show the difference those tools made to the outcome, not just the process.
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