Sharjah: Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has inaugurated the 18th edition of the Sharjah Nabati Poetry Festival. It is organized by the Department of Culture from February 5 to 11, 2024, with the participation of 40 poets, at the Cultural Palace.
The most well-known poems published in Al Hira magazine are recognized and encouraged with the creation of the “Al Hira Award for Nabati Poetry” by the Department of Culture, per the directive of the Ruler of Sharjah.
A poem will be selected from each issue of the magazine issued by the department monthly, bringing the number of winning texts to 12 poems, starting in January 2024.
The writing of Nabati poetry, which has a sizable readership in the area and among Arabs, is encouraged and promoted by paying tribute to poets.
At the start of the ceremony, Dr. Sheikh Al Qasimi and the audience watched a video that featured the biographies of the honored poets, Saleh bin Aziz Al Mansouri and Naima bin Thalith, highlighting their literary journeys and most notable moments. In addition, the video featured lyrical readings of several of their best-known poems.
On the first evening of the festival, both poets: Abdulaziz Suleiman Al Fadghoush from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Mohammed bin Hammad Al Kaabi from the United Arab Emirates, presented poetry readings, in which they discussed the achievements of the Emirate of Sharjah and the directives of the Ruler of Sharjah that provide a great standard of living.
the Ruler of Sharjah honoured the poets of the 18th edition of the festival, namely: Saleh bin Ali Al Mansouri and Naima Khalifa bin Thalith, presenting them with certificates of appreciation and commemorative shields, and His Highness took group photos with them.