UAE Central Bank issues commemorative coins to mark centenary of Emirati poet

Abu Dhabi: The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE), in collaboration with the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, has issued silver commemorative coins to mark the 100th anniversary of Emirati poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais (1925-2025).

Each silver coin weighs 60 grams and has a nominal value of Dh100, with 1,000 pieces to be issued. CBUAE will hand over the coins to the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation and will only be available for purchase at its headquarters, CBUAE said in a statement.

Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais is regarded as one of the most prominent poetic voices in the UAE and the Gulf region. The obverse (the side of a coin or medal bearing the head or principal design) of the coin features a poetic verse from the late Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais's poetry: "My homeland is my blood, flowing between my wings, as if it and soul are the same".

Meanwhile, the coin's reverse side features a portrait of Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, along with the inscriptions "Central Bank of the UAE" and "Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation" in Arabic and English. It also includes the phrase "Centenary of Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais" in Arabic, along with the years 1925-2025 and the coin's face value.

Saif Humaid Aldhaheri, the CBUAE's Assistant Governor for Banking Operations and Support Services, said, "The issuance of commemorative coins for the centenary of the Emirati poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais serves as a tribute to his memory and a recognition of his significant contributions to advancing intellectual and scientific progress in culture, literature and poetry."

 Al Owais' name is closely linked to the prestigious Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award, which has honoured dozens of Arab writers and creators since its establishment in 1987 and continues to recognise excellence in literature today.

Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid Ahmed, Secretary General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, said, "UNESCO's designation of 2025 as the Year of Culture to commemorate the centenary of celebrated Emirati poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais came after the organisation made a thorough review of Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais' rich profile of achievements, presented by the National Committee of the UAE for Education, Culture, and Science, during the 42nd session of UNESCO's General Conference.

Last month, UAE's main bank has announced the issuance of silver coins to mark the bank's Golden Jubilee. The CBUAE has issued 3,000 of these commemorative coins, each weighing 60 grams.