The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation has unveiled its programme for celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of the Emirati poet Sultan bin Ali Al Owais (1925-2025).
The announcement was made by Abdul Hamid Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Foundation, during a press conference held on Monday at Dar Sultan Building the Foundation’s Premises. The event was attended by Dr. Mohammed Al Mutawa and Dr. Fatima Al Sayegh, members of the Board of Trustees, along with Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Foundation.
Abdul Hamid Ahmed highlighted that the Foundation has prepared a comprehensive cultural programme to mark the centenary of Sultan Al Owais, following the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) designation of 2025 as the year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of the celebrated Emirati poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais and his remarkable legacy.
He underlined that UNESCO’s decision followed a thorough review of Sultan bin Ali Al Owais’ dossier of achievements, presented by the National Committee of the UAE for Education, Culture, and Science, during the 42nd session of UNESCO’s General Conference.
The Secretary-General expressed profound thanks to the Ministry of Culture and Youth, as well as to the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science, for their outstanding efforts in enriching the dossier and its content.
Abdul Hamid Ahmed speaking during the press conference, in the presence of Mohammed Al Mutawa, Fatima Al Sayegh and Ibrahim Al Hashem.
Coinciding with this occasion, the Secretary-General announced an increase in the value of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award to Dh150,000 s for each category, starting from its 19th edition. This brings the total prize amount to US750,000, distributed across the following categories: Poetry, Short Story, Novel and Play, Literary Studies and Criticism, Humanities and Future Studies, and the Cultural and Scientific Achievement Award.
He stated that the celebration will feature a wide range of intellectual, artistic, musical, and cinematic events, along with publications and other distinguished activities that will take place throughout the year. The Foundation has allocated a dedicated budget for these qualitative activities, which will be held both within and beyond the UAE.
The festivities are set to commence on Thursday, January 23, 2025, with a concert by Maestro Mohammed Al Qahoom at Dubai Opera. The concert will showcase a blend of Arab and Emirati heritage, including poems by Sultan Al Owais performed by renowned Arab singers. In addition, Maestro Al Qahoom will present his distinctive choir and orchestral arrangements in a classical style, which has garnered significant admiration worldwide.
Dr. Fatima Al Sayegh highlighted that several books about the life and work of the poet Sultan Al Owais have been published. These include his poetry collection (Diwan), containing his complete poetic works, and a book featuring studies, articles, and dialogues about him, and another book exploring his life, ideas and career.
She further noted that, on this occasion, the Foundation has decided to produce a documentary film covering all aspects of Sultan Al Owais’s life—his professional, literary, social and other contributions. Prominent professionals in the field of cinema have been commissioned to work on the film, which will be screened at the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation upon its completion. Copies of the film will also be shared with similar cultural institutions.
Al Sayegh added that the Foundation will also organise an international symposium on Sultan Al Owais and his literary contributions. The event, held in cooperation with UNESCO, is scheduled to take place in Paris mid-next year. It will feature researchers from various regions worldwide who have a scholarly or personal connection with Sultan Al Owais. Participants will include critics, close friends of the late poet, and academics interested in studying his poetry and literary achievements.
Ibrahim Al Hashemi noted that the celebration holds a unique significance for the UAE people who take pride in the immense legacy of the poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais. In this context, the Foundation reached an agreement with Emirates Post to issue commemorative stamps featuring the image of Sultan Al Owais alongside excerpts of his poetry, reflecting his thoughts and literary style.
Furthermore, the Foundation, in collaboration with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, has arranged for the issuance of a commemorative coin honouring Sultan Al Owais. One side of the coin will mark the centenary of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, while the other will feature a verse from his poetry:
“My homeland is my blood flowing within my wings,
It is as if the soul is in it equally.”
Al Hashemi added that the Foundation is organising an art exhibition, set to take place in February 2025, inspired by the poems of Sultan Al Owais. The exhibition will feature dozens of artists, showcasing paintings and manuscripts of Sultan Al Owais’s poetry, as well as drawings inspired by his work. A large number of Emirati and Arab artists have been selected to contribute to this project, with the exhibition set to display 100 artworks. The art works will be documented in a beautifully crafted book, which will be released alongside the exhibition.
At the conclusion of the conference, the Secretary-General underscored that the true value of the poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais lies in his forward-thinking vision, demonstrated through his numerous charitable projects. He also highlighted that the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Award maintains its distinguished prestige, which only grows brighter with each recognition of a creative Arab intellectual or writer—an outcome clearly evident in the previous editions of the award.
Abdul Hamid Ahmed reiterated his gratitude to the Ministry of Culture and Youth for its efforts, as well as to the UAE National Commission for Education, Culture, and Science for its significant role in ensuring the success of UNESCO’s initiative, which culminated in the designation of 2025 as the year to celebrate the centenary of Sultan Al Owais.
