His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, received on Monday a number of poets participating in the Emirati Poetry Forum.

They were accompanied by Fares Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the Cultural Programmes and Heritage Festivals Committee – Abu Dhabi.

During the meeting which was held at Qasr Al Bahr Majlis, Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the importance of poetry and literature, being part of the quintessential Arabian cultural heritage, calling for honing the skills of Arab youth to enrich the cultural and literary scene with an inexhaustible well of poetic creations.

Poetry plays a significant role in inculcating human values and strengthening national identity, while boosting cultural awareness across the society, Sheikh Mohamed noted.

The poets expressed their happiness at meeting Sheikh Mohamed, with a number of them reciting some of their poetic verses, through which they gave full vent to their love and loyalty to the UAE’s leadership and people.