Dubai: Fatima Saeed Al Bakkali, the first Emirati Gulf woman certified in the Thuluth, Naskh, Diwani and Diwani Jali scripts from Turkey, passed away on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
Al Bakkali was distinguished not only by her unique certifications but also by her remarkable contribution to Arabic calligraphy over a career that spanned nearly a quarter of a century.
Her accolades include top honours in the Arabic calligraphy competition at the Creative Modern Center in 2001, the prestigious “Al Owais Award” as the best work of art for young people, and the Emirati Women’s Award for Arts and Literature.
Her talent and dedication led her to participate in numerous exhibitions, workshops, and festivals both in the UAE and internationally, serving as an official at the Dubai Arabic Calligraphy Centre.
In 2021, her contributions were recognised at the Cairo International Forum for Arabic Calligraphy, where she was honoured in its sixth edition.
Born in 1974 and a member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society, Al Bakkali began her journey in calligraphy by studying at the Department of Arts at the Culture and Information Department in Sharjah, known today as the Sharjah Centre for the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornamentation.
She pursued training courses worldwide, deeply committed to Islamic art and the perpetuation of calligraphy as a profound and timeless art form.
