The UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth announced the names of the 30 winners of the 16th edition of the Al Burda Award, which come in six different categories: ‘Classical Poetry,’ ‘Nabati Poetry,’ ‘Classical Calligraphy,’ Modern Calligraphy’ and ‘Ornamentation and Typography.’ The winners were announced at a gala evening held on December 19 at the Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo 2020.

The awards ceremony was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Shakhboot Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State who honoured the 30 winners and took memorial photos with them. Alongside was Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth.

Commenting on the ceremony, H.E Al Kaabi thanked His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for the continuous support and for taking the award to the global level. Her Excellency stated that the award, in its sixteenth session, received more than 1,557 contestants in a variety of Islamic arts, ensuring its position as one of the main global events celebrating modern Islamic art and its creators.

Her Excellency added that since its launch, the award aims to be a bridge for inspiring cultural and artistic communication between people, which aims to brighten the future by introducing authentic Islamic civilization, culture and arts throughout history.

Winners

The current edition of the Al Burda Award awarded Egyptian poet Heba Alfeky the first prize in Classical Poetry, with the second position in the same category secured by her compatriot Diyaa Alkilany. Lamis Al Rahabi and Bahija Masri Idlbi from Syria won the third and the fourth prize respectively in the Classical Poetry category.

Abdulaziz Hamed Mohammed Al-Omairi from Oman won first position in Nabati Poetry, followed by Mohammad Hamdan Alanezah from Jordan in second place. Ali Alqarni from Saudi Arabia and Muzna Rabia Albrieki from Oman took third and fourth places respectively.

Egypt’s Mohamed Gaber Abouelella was placed first position in Classical Calligraphy, followed by Meryem Nuruzi Halilani of Turkey who secured second place. Noman Tayseer Rajab from Syria, Ahmad Ali Namazi Reihanloo from Iran and Mahfod Thunnun from Iraq won third, fourth and fifth positions respectively in the Classical Calligraphy category.

The Modern Calligraphy category had four awards, with Mahsa Javad Davachi of Iran winning first prize and Dhia Al-Jazaeri from Canada securing second. Third and fourth prizes were taken by Iran's Babak Mohammad Ali Hejazi and Masoud Asghar Mohebbifar, respectively.

Mihriban Beyza Kaya from Turkey won first prize in Ornamentation, while second, third, fourth and fifth positions went to Iranian compatriots Masoumeh Ahmad Moradi, Afsaneh Khademreza Mahdavi, Asgar Ahmad Moradi, and Zaynab Ibrahim Shahi, respectively.

Eight winners were announced in the Typography category, namely Syrian national Duaa Abzeed, Jamal Eldin Elsamani Mohammed from Sudan, Tarek Samir Alsawwa from Syria, Reza Babajani from Iran, Bita Amel from Iran, Lama Kadri from Lebanon, Asia Alsheshani from Jordan and Fatima Abdulla Alketbi from the UAE.

The awards evening hosted several standout performances from a cross-section of genres, with artists including Watar Orchestra from Iraq, Dubai Chamber Choir and Sheikh Mahmoud Eltohamy from Egypt, the latter with a piece titled ‘Anin.’ Noumoucounda Cissoko from Senegal delivered a musical recital titled “Mandi Strings”, while Lebanese singer Jahida Wahba presented several songs from her catalogue.

The closing performance was an Emirati Malid delivered by Rashid Al Nuaimi and Saif Fathel.

The Al Burda Award is a global platform that reflects the diversity of creative expression throughout the Islamic world and seeks to revitalise the Islamic cultural and artistic movement.  The award was launched by the Ministry of Culture and Youth in AH 1425 / 2004 AD under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (God’s blessing and peace be upon him).

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