Honouring Arab excellence for 25 years

Dubai The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award has turned 25 with each passing year establishing it more firmly as one of the most prestigious cultural awards in the Arab world.

In its twelfth session 2010-2011, the award received 1,237 entries out of which 218 were in the poetry category, 271 for stories, novels and drama, 220 for criticism and literature studies, 366 for future studies and 162 for the cultural and scientific achievements, the last named being a life-time achievement award given to Arab intellectuals whose works make a lasting impact on the community and add to the glory of Arab culture.

Egypt leads race

Egypt accounted for the highest number of entries with 398, followed by Syria with 136, Iraq with 129, Jordan with 116 and Saudi Arabia with 90.

The late poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais established the permanent award bearing his name on December 17, 1987, with the aim of honouring, encouraging and supporting Arab scholars, litterateurs and intellectuals. The UAE Writers Association nurtured the award in its infancy and supervised the appointment of its first general secretariat until it evolved into an autonomous cultural foundation under the name Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Foundation in 1992.

It became an official foundation bearing the same name by virtue of Emiri Decree No 4 dated March 21, 1994, issued by the Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Since it was first launched in Al Owais Cultural Award's second session, the award has honoured Iraqi poet Mohammad Mahdi Al Jawahiri in 1990-1991, Syrian poet Nizar Qabbani in 1992-1993, Saudi writer Shaikh Hamad Al Jasser in 1994-1995, Palestinian orientalist Dr Edward Said in 1996-1997, Islamic cleric Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi in 1998-1999, Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish and Syrian poet Adonis in 2000-2001, Egyptian journalist and historian Dr Tharwat Okasha in 2004-2005, Emirati intellectual Juma Al Majid and Palestinian writer Salma Al Khdra Al Jayousi in 2006-2009 and Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the UAE General Women's Union, Supreme Chairperson of the Family Development Foundation and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Maternity and Childhood.

Mohammad Mahdi Al Jawahiri (1898-1997)

Awarded for the high standard of his poetry and his contribution to the cultural scene. He was regarded as a distinguished representative of Arabic poetry that was true to its classical structure and his contributions to literature, culture and journalism too were valued just as highly.

Nizar Qabbani (1923-1998)

Awarded in appreciation of his pioneering role and his inspiring work in Arabic poetry, Qabbani was a leading figure in innovative Arabic poetry and founder of a trend that started with his first published collection of poems The brunette told me, which introduced fundamental changes to the form and substance of Arabic poetry that have held sway ever since.

Shaikh Hamad Al Jasser (1909-2000)

Awarded for his contributions to the scientific and cultural development of his country, Saudi Arabia, as well as the entire Arab world. His achievements varied from launching Al Yamama and Al Riyad newspapers and Al Arab magazine, to establishing the first printing press followed by a publishing house in Najd. He also authored numerous studies, research papers and other works.

Dr Edward Said (1935-2003)

Awarded for being an Arab intellectual who highlighted the major issues of the Arab world in general and the Palestinian issue in particular, Said was a specialised critic and researcher who helped the Palestinian voice get heard internationally. Throughout his life, Dr Said faced the enemies of his nation with strong reasoning and firm rationale and remained a defender of freedom and democracy and of Islamic culture. He stood against state terror in all its forms, and supported human values.

Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi (Born: 1926)

Honoured as anArab Islamic thinker, Al Qaradawi contributed greatly to the service of Islamic ideology and simplifying it to make it easier for Muslims all over the world to comprehend. He refused to waste his time on secondary issues, but focused on Islam's battle against ideologies emanating from the East and West.

Al Arabi Magazine

The Al Arabi magazine, published in Kuwait, became the first publication to win the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award in recognition of its distinguished service to Arab culture over almost half a century. Throughout the years, Al Arabi has been a beacon of enlightenment in the Arab world and a forum for a serious and scientific approach to Arabic culture.

Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2009)

Darwish was the poet of human liberation in general, and the throbbing pulse of the Palestinian resistance. His pet themes were not limited to struggle, despite his remarkable success in taking his message across to the masses, but he restored the beauty of the written word and liberated it from the effects of repetition, enriched the modern poetic movement with sweet music and the profound depth of his poems.

Adonis (real name Ali Ahmad Saeed) (born: 1930)

In addition to being one of the pioneering experimentalists who explored new horizons in Arabic poetry, Adonis was a leader in the field of post-modernism. He worked with an open mind to alter concepts and challenge inherited thoughts to give them a new thrust. He is thus considered the voice that effectively carried the poetry movement in a new direction that promoted liberal creativity.

Dr Tharwat Okasha (1921- 2012)

The renowned historian and writer was earlier awarded the Unesco Silver Medal in 1968 for saving Abu Symbol Temples and Al Nooba monuments. He also received the Unesco Gold Medal in 1970 for his efforts in saving Al Nooba monuments, and Phila Temple. The French Arts and Literature Medal, Commander Degree, also came his way in 1968.

Juma Al Majid (Born: 1930)

The intellectual and philanthropist was awarded in recognition of his role in serving education and culture in the Arab region and around the world.

His initiatives included establishing schools and colleges in many emirates where over 10,000 students are learning for free, as well as establishing the Juma Al Majid Heritage and Culture Centre, which restores original manuscripts, protects them from damage and loss and provides them to readers and researchers. He also co-founded a number of education, culture and philanthropy organisations in the Arab world including Beit Al Kheir in Dubai and the Arab Thought Foundation in Beirut.

Dr Salma Al Khadra Al Jayyousi (1928- )

Awarded for her leading role in promoting education and culture in the Arab world, Dr Al Jayyousi assumed responsibility for introducing Arab and Islamic culture to the West by translating Arabic works into English besides her other research projects. She also participated in publishing encyclopedias and research about the Arabic and Islamic cultures and modern Arabic literature.

Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak

Wife of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and mother of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Shaikha Fatima has been honoured for her many contributions to the upliftment of women, not only at the local level, but also at the regional and international levels.

Women's issues have been receiving special interest locally, regionally and internationally in Shaikha Fatima's view and they also represent a practical approach that will empower the political leadership of the UAE.

Shaikha Fatima's achievements are particularly praiseworthy when it comes to implementing pioneering projects for women without deviating from religious and social principles and values that govern society at a larger level.

Awards night: Defining moment

Winners of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award will be honoured in a ceremony tonight at the Al Owais Cultural Foundation headquarters.

The 2010-2011 winners are Dr Mohammad Ali Shams Al Deen from Lebanon for poetry, Radwa Ashour from Egypt for stories, novels and drama, Dr Faisal Darraj from Palestine for criticism and literature studies, Dr Abdul Aziz Al Douri from Iraq for human and future studies, and Ameen Maalouf from Lebanon for cultural and scientific achievements.