Abu Dhabi: Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council (ADEC), has inaugurated the first Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Sheikh Khaled further toured the exhibition and visited various pavilions, including one dedicated to the poetry of the Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as well as the stands of participating countries.
The event, organised by the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee in Abu Dhabi in cooperation with the Emirates Heritage Club, has attracted more than 1,000 poets along with a group of local, regional, and global intellectuals, authors, as well as media professionals.
The Abu Dhabi Crown Prince met with poets and literary figures to discuss the role of their work in enriching the UAE and the Arab world’s literary scene while preserving cultural heritage and promoting the Arabic language.
Sheikh Khaled was accompanied by Mr. Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to the President of the UAE and Chancellor of UAE University; Mr. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi); Staff Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Cultural Programs and Heritage Festivals Committee in Abu Dhabi; and Mr. Ahmed Jasem Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED).
The event aims to broaden the audience base of poetic and cultural creativity by showcasing a range of styles, such as Nabati and classical Arabic poetry. The festival further highlights arts and literature as well as offers an artistic platform to promote the growth of poetry and literary arts.
Furthermore, the festival, which hosts the Abu Dhabi Poetry Conference from October 12 to 14, 2023, features several specialised cultural seminars and poetry evenings. In addition, there will also be a book signing corner, where authors can meet and interact with readers and sign new publications, and a dedicated children’s pavilion where the next generation can discover poetry.