20th edition of the Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival; activities of the event until January 14

Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, witnessed the opening of the 20th Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival on Monday at the Cultural Palace. The festival is organised by the Department of Culture and features over 70 poets, critics, and media representatives from various Arab nations. Its operations will last for seven days, ending on January 14.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah opened the event by playing a video that discussed the lives of the poets being honoured at the festival. It highlighted their most notable accomplishments, their most significant literary works, and their unwavering dedication to the field of Arabic poetry, all of which helped them win the Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry.

During the recorded material, the poets also thanked Sharjah and its Ruler for their support of poetry in the Arab world by organising poetry festivals, establishing poetry homes, and commemorating and celebrating writers.

The two festival participants, Ali Al Shaali of the United Arab Emirates and Arif Al Saadi of the Republic of Iraq, who had received the Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry for the year 2024 in its twelfth edition, were subsequently awarded by the Ruler of Sharjah.

Additionally, the winners of the third edition of the Sharjah Award for Arabic Poetry Criticism were acknowledged by His Highness. First place went to Moroccan critic Anouar Benyaish, second place went to Moroccan critic Al Hussein Benbada, and third place went to Tunisian critic Al-Moncef Al-Wahaibi.

Seven days will be dedicated to the 20th edition of the Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival, which will feature 70 poets, critics, and media personalities from various Arab nations. The festival features a number of unique and noteworthy events, including many poetry nights and seminars.

The signing of recently released poetry collections by Sharjah's Department of Culture will also be included in this edition, along with a discussion on the evolution of Arabic poetry language by seven Arab critics and the planning of an intellectual gathering. On the seventh day, the festival will relocate to the city of Khorfakkan as part of a poetry evening hosted by the Khorfakkan Literary Council.