The Board of Directors of the Cultural and Scientific Association in Dubai announced that the second edition of its Award for Arabic Poetry has been named after the late poet Hamad Khalifa Bu Shihab.

The Award is dedicated to preserving Arabic poetry, highlighting exceptional poetic creative experiences in the Arab world, and honoring outstanding poets. It also aims to showcase the UAE’s commitment to nurturing poetry as an oral tradition of verbal art, which has historically served as a medium for Arabs to document their lives, the history of their nation and their sentiments throughout the ages.

The Cultural and Scientific Association’s Award for Arabic Poetry is dedicated to preserving and promoting eloquent Arabic poetry across three categories: vertical poetry, free poetry (Al Taf’ilah), and prose poetry.

The inaugural edition of the award was named after the late poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, in recognition of his esteemed position and significant contributions to Arab culture and literature. It saw the participation of 664 contestants, with 301 competing in vertical poetry, 159 in free poetry, and 204 in prose poetry.

Bilal Al Budoor, Chairman of the Association’s Board and Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, said that naming the second edition of the award after the late poet Hamad Khalifa Bu Shihab aligns with the Association’s and the Award’s mission to honor Emirati poetry icons and introduce them to new generations. Hamad Khalifa Bu Shihab, a pioneer of poetry and known for his deep love for his homeland and pride in its heritage, exemplifies these values.