Video: Sharjah ruler witnesses launch of Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival

The poets also praised during the recorded material the role of Sharjah and its ruler in supporting poetry in the Arab world through poetry houses, poetry festivals and celebrating and honoring poets.

The Ruler of Sharjah then honored the two figures of the festival who won the Sharjah Prize for Arabic Poetry for the year 2024 in its 12th edition, namely Ali Al Shaali from the United Arab Emirates and Arif Al Saadi from the Republic from Iraq.

His Highness also honored the winners of the Sharjah Prize for Arabic Poetry Criticism in its third edition. Tunisian critic Al-Moncef Al-Wahaibi took first place, while Moroccan critic Anouar Benyaish took second place and Moroccan critic Al Hussein Benbada took third place.

During the event, His Highness heard poetry readings delivered by poet Ali Al Shaali from the United Arab Emirates and poet Arif Al Saadi from the Republic of Iraq.

The 20th edition of the Sharjah Arab Poetry Festival will be held for 7 days with the participation of 70 poets, critics and media figures representing various Arab countries. The festival offers a diverse and distinguished set of events as it witnesses several poetry evenings and sessions.

The current edition will also feature the signing of new poetry collections published by the Sharjah Department of Culture and the organization of an intellectual event discussed by seven Arab critics on the development of the language of Arabic poetry. The festival will move to the town of Khorfakkan on its seventh day as part of a poetry evening at the Khorfakkan Literary Council.

The Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival contributes to preserving the basic foundations of poetry and nurturing poetic heritage, which contributes to enriching the poetic field with specialized poetic literary production, hosting poets and poetry lovers and organizing an evening forum of poetry with the participation of poets and critics from the Arab world who illuminate the nights of the Emirates with poetry and enrich the intellectual program of the festival.

The opening ceremony was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Department of Statistics and Community Development, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Sharjah Consultative Council, Rashid Ahmed bin Al Shaikh, Chairman of the Rulers Court, Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture, Dr. Mansour bin Mohammed bin Nassar, Chairman of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah, Khalid bin Jasem Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Trade and Tourism Development Authority, Ali Ahmed Bu Ghazin, Chairman of Sharjah Fisheries Resources Authority, Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Protocol Department, and several senior officials and members of the Sharjah Consultative Council, as well as a group of writers, intellectuals, poets and poetry lovers.