Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Hundreds of poets and photographers from around the world captured the beauty and cultural significance of date palm trees in two renowned competitions organised by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation.
Winners of the poetry and photography competitions - held under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees - were announced recently.
As many as 698 poets from 23 countries expressed their love of date palm trees in soulful poems written in the official Arabic language and in Nabati style.
The winners for the official Arabic category are: Muhammad Khairy Al-Imam Jabr, who ranked first; Muhammad Al-Amin Ahmad Abd in second; and Alaa Naeem Ali Al-Qatrawi in third. In the Nabati category, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Zoubi won first place, followed by Ali Mohammed Saif Saleh Al Mazrouei in second, and Dunia Ziad Khalil Al-Qaisi in third.
This competition has become a creative platform that revives the historical relationship between Arabic poetry and the palm tree, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Secretary-General of the Award, told Aletihad.
"The Date Palm International Poetry competition is one of the pioneering cultural initiatives launched by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation under the directives of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Chairman of the Award's Board of Trustees. The competition aims to connect Arab poetic heritage with the palm tree as a cultural and civilisational symbol deeply embedded in the Arab conscience," Dr. Zaid said.
By reviving both official Arabic and Nabati poetry, the contest preserves cultural heritage and reaffirms how the palm tree stands as a symbol of generosity and identity for Arab culture, he added.
The jury evaluates poets' work based on innovation, aesthetic quality, as well as poetic refinement, Dr. Zaid said. They focus on creativity, linguistic standards, rhyme, structure, along with overall unity.
"The future of the 'Date Palm International Poetry' competition promises further prosperity and a qualitative impact on the Arab poetry scene. It is no longer merely a traditional literary competition, but rather a pioneering cultural platform that redirects the poetic compass toward symbols of the environment and identity, reviving heritage with a contemporary creative approach," he said.
Through this platform, the palm tree becomes a lasting poetic symbol, while revitalising poetry, supporting new poets, and merging art, culture, and environmental awareness. Dr. Zaid added.
Photography Competition
For the "Date Palm International Photography" competition's 16th edition, 142 photographers from 18 countries submitted a total of 380 stunning images. Over the past 16 years, this contest has transformed into "one of the most important international competitions specialised in the visual documentation of the date palm tree, with all its cultural, heritage, and environmental symbolism", Dr. Zaid told Aletihad.
"The 'Date Palm International Photography' competition, organised by the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation under the guidance of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, has witnessed both qualitative and quantitative development since its launch," he said.
It has grown from being a competition with an environmental focus into a global platform, with 4,925 photographers from 58 countries and 15,692 images submitted through the years.
Photography has played a key role in reimagining the palm tree as a symbol of culture, environment, and agriculture, blending tradition with modern creativity, Dr. Zaid said. It has reshaped its image from an agricultural element to a vibrant symbol of beauty, identity, and environmental connection, boosting global awareness, promoting conservation, and supporting Arab cultural and environmental values.
By offering new perspectives that blend heritage with modernity, international photographers have been the award's important partners in showcasing the cultural significance of the palm tree, Dr. Zaid said.
Their work serves as a cultural bridge, emphasises the human connection to the palm tree, and promotes its environmental and heritage values globally, he added.
"International photographers have played a pivotal and exceptional role in reintroducing the palm tree to the world as a cultural and human symbol that transcends borders, transcending its status as a mere agricultural component to become a bearer of the values of identity, beauty, and life. Through their lenses, international photographers have contributed to translating the profound meanings associated with the palm tree into a universal visual language capable of penetrating hearts and transcending cultural and geographical barriers," Dr. Zaid said.
