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Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, has honoured the winners of the third edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award at a ceremony held at the Zayed Central Library in Al Ain.
The award was launched by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) to recognise and celebrate notable works of Nabati poetry, folklore studies, and research that spotlight the heritage of Nabati poetry and its inherent values.
The ceremony was held as part of the Al Ain Book Festival 2024 and attended by His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi; His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC; and His Excellency Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director General of the National Archives and National Library and Chairman of the award’s Higher Committee, along with a number of high-ranking officials.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: “The Kanz Al Jeel Award embodies Abu Dhabi’s commitment to creativity and cultural innovation. The award nurtures talent and encourages new generations to draw inspiration from the creative traditions of their ancestors. The remarkable success of the award in its previous editions is a testament to the unwavering support of the UAE’s wise leadership in promoting cultural heritage and cultivating a community of creative expression.“
In his speech during the ceremony, His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim congratulated the award winners, praising the high level of competitiveness of the works submitted and their ability to reinforce the aesthetic and humanitarian values of the poetry and verses of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE.
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim emphasised the importance of reviving Nabati poetry and traditional arts as essential pillars of the cultural identity of the United Arab Emirates, highlighting their role in conveying emotions, aspirations, and achievements that reflect the hopes and dreams of the community. He also stressed the need to preserve these art forms and pass them down to new generations to deepen their connection with their authentic past.
His Excellency Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said: "The Kanz Al Jeel Award has been given to you because you have met its high artistic standards, offering works that reflect what the founding father Sheikh Zayed embodied through the eloquence of his unique poetic experience. You have enriched the legacy of Nabati poetry and the creative industries associated with it, adding precious gems worthy of recognition. We hope these efforts will continue in the service of our authentic heritage, and we trust that you will uphold this responsibility and continue on this path.
“Over the course of its three editions, the Kanz Al Jeel Award has firmly established its presence and reputation among pioneers of this esteemed Arab art form, and scholars, translators, and visual artists. It has become a beacon that inspires new generations to appreciate the repertoire of our heritage and encourage them to explore its aesthetics through a fresh lens and contemporary tools,” H.E. added.
His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan awarded the Arts category prize to artist Mahsa Davachi from Iran for her painting titled UAE, which she skilfully executed, adhering to principles of composition and colour distribution to achieve a remarkable golden ratio.
Saudi poet Faisal Al Oteibi was honoured for winning the Poetry Matching category with his poem Al Sheikh Nad, which conveyed values of encouragement and motivation for youth, urging them to hold onto their religion, customs, and traditions, and to take pride in their national identity while arming themselves with knowledge to serve their country. The poet’s unique style demonstrated a great ability in matching, as his work reflected strength and dignity, closely resembling the style of the original poem.
His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan bestowed the Poetic Publications category award to Emirati poet Ateeq Khalfan Alkaabi for his collection Signatures, which presents refreshing poems filled with a lively style, reflecting deep human experiences and modern philosophical reflections, while adhering to traditional forms.
In the Creative Personality category, His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan honoured renowned artist and calligrapher, Fuad Honda, Japanese by birth and Arab at heart. This award recognises Honda’s remarkable achievements in the field of Arabic calligraphy and his exploration of its aesthetics. The renowned artist has participated in numerous exhibitions worldwide, demonstrating the significance of this artform to diverse cultures and audiences. His exceptional works, characterised by their extraordinary beauty, reflect his deep passion for Arabic culture, earning him the recognition he deserves.
The Kanz Al Jeel award is an initiative organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre in line with its mission to preserve the richness of the Arabic language and celebrate the creativity of its poets, particularly in Nabati poetry. This form of poetry represents an exceptional cultural phenomenon, in the UAE and throughout the wider region. Nabati poetry is a profound expression of identity and cultural memory for a community whose language and thought are marked by eloquence and depth, resulting in timeless verses that resonate with beauty and significance.
This year’s edition of the award, whose name was inspired by a poem of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, recorded remarkable growth in participation, boasting a 128 per cent increase from last year. With a total of 600 entries from 24 countries, including 19 Arab nations, this achievement underscores the award’s pioneering journey and the prestigious status it has attained since its inception in 2021.
