Abu Dhabi's Kanz Al Jeel Award Welcomes Submissions, Celebrates Nabati Poetry

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) is currently accepting submissions for the third edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award until 31 May 2024. This initiative is designed to highlight and reward the creative efforts of individuals in the realm of poetry and literature. Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, emphasized the Award's role in enhancing the cultural and literary landscape at a regional level by attracting high-quality submissions that contribute significantly to the genre of Nabati poetry.

Dr. Bin Tamim further stated the Award's alignment with the Centre’s strategic goals to promote the Arabic language and underscore its importance. He highlighted the Award's function as a cultural event that showcases the beauty and significance of Poetry Matching, thereby enriching the intellectual and cultural movement with its authentic content and values.

The Kanz Al Jeel Award, inspired by a poem from Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, acknowledges outstanding contributions in poetic compositions, folklore research, and studies into Nabati poetry. It reflects on poetry's role as a societal mirror and a manifestation of Emirati and Arab creativity. Information on Award conditions and submission procedures can be found on their website or by contacting [email protected].

The Award offers a total prize pool of AED 1.5 million and sets rigorous criteria to ensure fairness and credibility in evaluating submissions. Nominations for the Creative Personality category are through academic, research, or cultural institutions, or by the Award’s Higher Committee, while nominations for other categories are open to individuals, literary and cultural institutions, universities, and publishing houses.

Candidates are expected to have made significant contributions to local and Arab poetic, critical, or artistic movements. Submissions must demonstrate authenticity and innovation, representing a meaningful addition to human culture and knowledge. An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is required for all submissions to protect intellectual property rights. Each participant may submit one work per category, provided it has not been entered in another competition or received an award in the same year. Winners are eligible to reapply five years after their initial win. While works must be written in Arabic for most categories, exceptions are made for Translation, Studies and Research, and Creative Personality categories. The Kanz Al Jeel Award reserves publication rights for submitted works.

With inputs from WAM