The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation has announced the winners for the 18th session of Al Owais Cultural Awards (2022-2023), namely Hasan Talab, Amin Saleh, Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim and Dr. Abdul Salam Bin Abdul Aali. Commenting on the news, Secretary General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation Abdul Hamid Ahmed said in a press statement that the Awards’ jury committee has selected this distinguished group of Arab authors and thinkers because each of them excels in his field and due to their contribution to the development of literature and culture in the Arab world. 

“After many deliberations the jury committee decided to grant the ‘Poetry Award’ to poet Hasan Talab, in recognition of the uniqueness, prolificacy and variety of his experience, in addition to his growing and comprehensive poetic project, which is characterized by experimentation and that brings together poetics, Sufism and philosophical visions.  Moreover, the committee decided to grant the ‘Short Story, Novel and Drama’ award to short-story writer Amin Saleh in recognition of his idiosyncratic creative experience that is manifested through his short stories, texts and other writings, which reflect his broad cultural interests and creative expertise. Furthermore, the committee granted the ‘Literary Studies and Criticism Award’ to critic Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim, whose writings display clear disciplinary vision and a preoccupation with Arab narratives, its achievements and its changing contexts, as well as its concern for cultural issues and the re-examining of the relationship between the East and the West. In addition, the committee granted the ‘Humanities and Future Studies’ award to thinker Dr. Abdul Salam Bin Abdul Aali as he is one of the pioneers of the Deconstructive school of thought in Arab culture who believes that literature, writing and translation are important pathways to philosophy. His style of writing is accessible to both the specialized and non-specialized reader,” added the Foundation’s Secretary General.  

The Secretary General pf the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation also stated that the winner of the ‘Cultural and Scientific Award’ will be announced at a later date, as this award is granted by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees unlike all the other awards. He concluded by congratulating the winners and wishing them more success in the future. 

It is worth mentioning that the total number of candidates nominated in all categories of the 18^th session of the Award is 1861, while the number of nominations in each of the categories was as follows: Poetry 231, Short Story, Novel and Drama 490, Literary Studies and Criticism 290, Humanities and Future Studies 485, Cultural and Scientific Achievement 270. Moreover, the total number of winners in all the sessions of the award is 101 Arab authors and thinkers, as well as 5 prestigious cultural institutions that have helped promote culture and knowledge. The Al Owais Cultural Awards have been selected by a total of 184 arbitrators and 84 consultants from various cultural fields. 

The Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award is bestowed upon those who reflect the originality and aspirations of Arab thought. The award is known for its independence, impartiality and commitment to creative excellence, irrespective of the candidates’ political views, intellectual beliefs, color, religion or gender.