Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
The Kanz Al Jeel Awards has made great advances in participation and cultural reach, said Abdulrahman Mohamed Al Naqbi, Director of the Literary Awards Department at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC).
“The fourth edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award witnessed remarkable growth, receiving more than 830 submissions from 35 countries - a 38% increase compared to the previous edition,” Al Naqbi said in an interview with Aletihad.
“The impressive figures reflect the Awards’ sustained efforts to achieve its goals of supporting both young and veteran poets, while encouraging works inspired by the poetic and intellectual legacy of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. These works reflect his remarkable personality and embody the principles he believed in and championed through his poetry.”
Al Naqbi noted that this year’s edition inspired fresh creativity, with poets exploring new themes through research, translation and artistic expression.
“Candidates were encouraged to explore new poetic themes in the Poetry Matching category that reflected fresh insights and distinctive perspectives.
“The awards have since become a cultural bridge. Kanz Al Jeel’s fourth edition marked a notable shift in terms of creative momentum and cultural diversity. It reaffirmed Nabati poetry as an authentic cultural expression, a bridge connecting Arab traditions with global audiences, and a distinctive art form that can transcend linguistic barriers and resonate with the collective human conscience.”
Al Naqbi said the awards serve as a strategic platform to revive Nabati poetry, connect it to the Arabic language, and pass heritage across generations.
He also emphasised that the six awards, which include Poetry Matching, Poetry Publications, Arts, Studies and Research, Creative Personality as well as Translation, invited participation from the Arab world and the wider world to interact with Nabati poetry in different ways.
“Kanz Al Jeel enhances opportunities to disseminate our poetic heritage and authentic folklore, further strengthening its position as one of the foremost literary awards that contribute to preserving the cultural heritage of the UAE, celebrating its rich diversity, supporting creative individuals in various fields, honouring their efforts, and encouraging them to continue making notable contributions.”
The statistics show the speed with which the awards have grown.
“The current edition received 830 entries from 35 countries, compared to 600 entries from 24 nations in the previous edition, recording an overall increase of 38%,” Al Naqbi shared.
“The UAE consolidated its presence with 64 entries, compared to 46 in the third edition. The Poetry Matching category attracted 465 poets, up from 353 previously. The Creative Personality category received 37 entries, up from 10; Arts attracted 281, up from 169; Poetic Publications received 26; and Translation garnered 11 entries, focusing on translating the late Sheikh Zayed’s poems into other languages.”
Al Naqbi explained that entries in the Poetry Matching category must follow Sheikh Zayed’s chosen poem in form and theme, while also showing originality and fresh perspective.
Al Naqbi signalled a willingness to broaden the scope of the awards.
“We remain optimistic about the future - any developments in this area would rely on ideas that genuinely contribute to the awards, and to human culture and knowledge more broadly, while remaining in line with the ALC’s mission to preserve cultural heritage and revitalise Nabati poetry as a cornerstone of cultural identity.”
The global appeal of the award has also been encouraging.
“This year saw 16 countries from beyond the Arab region participate in the awards, including the Netherlands, Japan, Iran, Sweden, Germany, Serbia, Nigeria, Ecuador, Colombia and Sri Lanka, along with the 19 Arab countries participating, led by the Gulf states, Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq,” he said.
He added that the awards’ diversity helps globalise Nabati poetry, highlight talent, as well as inspire others through Sheikh Zayed’s poetic legacy.
“The award’s impact extends beyond the number of countries and participants to encompass the profound impact it has on the winners’ lives and creative journeys. The growing interest reflects confidence in its integrity and transparency within the creative community, underscoring its prominent role in the Arab and global cultural landscape as an inspiring platform for honouring creatives, discovering talent, and promoting the human values of poetry,” Al Naqbi concluded.
