Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Honours Winners of 4th Kanz Al Jeel Award
Image used for illustrative purpose. Photo: WAM
Al Ain: Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan honoured the winners of the fourth edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award during a ceremony at Qasr Al Muwaiji in Al Ain. The event was held under the patronage of Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain Region, and took place on the opening day of the Al Ain Book Festival 2025. The award is organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, part of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi.
This year, five main categories were celebrated. Egyptian artist Nagat Soliman won the Arts category for her work Tears Streamed From My Eyes. In the Poetry Matching category, Omani poet Ali Al Harthi was honoured for his poem Sada Al Noor, which reflects the spirit of a well-known poem by the late Sheikh Zayed.
Kuwaiti poet Hamed Zaid received the Poetic Publications award for his collection Wa Abqa Jabal, praised for its strong language and artistic style. Emirati writer and researcher Ali Abualreesh Al Mansoori won the Studies and Research category for his book exploring themes in the poetry of the late Sheikh Zayed, including love, nature and peace.
The Creative Personality Award was given to Emirati poet Mohammed Rashid Al Shamsi for his long and influential career in Nabati poetry, which began in the 1970s. The Translation category was not awarded this year.
The Creative Personality winner received a gold medallion, a certificate of appreciation and a prize of AED 500,000. Winners in the other categories each received a gold medallion, a certificate and AED 200,000.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the award reflects the emirate’s commitment to supporting the Arabic language and celebrating creative talents who enrich Nabati poetry. He added that the award has become an important platform for poets, writers and researchers.
Dr Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, said the award aims to encourage creativity and research in Nabati poetry and to inspire future generations to build on the rich cultural heritage of the region.
This year, the award received more than 830 submissions from 35 countries, including 19 Arab nations an increase of 38 percent compared to the previous edition. The Kanz Al Jeel Award continues to support the preservation and development of Nabati poetry, encouraging the use of modern language and tools to express this traditional art.
The Arabic Language Centre also announced that nominations for the fifth edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award are now open.
