Kanz Al Jeel Award 2025: Honoring Excellence in Arts and Poetry

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Recently, Abu Dhabi declared the winners of the fourth iteration of the Kanz Al Jeel Award, serving as a prominent tribute to Arabic poetry, art, and scholarly research. The awards ceremony took place under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, coinciding with the commencement of the Al Ain Book Festival 2025 at Qasr Al Muwaiji.

This prestigious award highlights exceptional creativity and cultural preservation, attracting skilled participants from various parts of the Arab world. In the Arts section, Egyptian artist Nagat Soliman clinched the accolade for her textile piece Tears Streamed From My Eyes, renowned for its sophisticated embroidery, dyeing, and collage methods that invite audiences to delve into rich symbolism.

Kuwaiti poet Hamed Zaid was honored in the Poetic Publications category for his 2025 poetry collection Wa Abqa Jabal, celebrated for its powerful voice, adept use of rhetorical devices, and the effective balance between concise and expansive poetic techniques. Omani poet Ali Al Harthi received recognition in the Poetry Matching section for his poem Sada Al Noor, which resonates effectively with the late Sheikh Zayed’s Li Sart Min Al Ain Saraya.

In the Studies and Research category, Emirati writer Ali Abualreesh Al Mansoori won for his book Zayed: Poetic Worlds Bound by the Horizon – A Trilogy of Love, Palm, and Desert. This work delves into significant themes in Sheikh Zayed’s poetry, focusing on ethics, aesthetic beauty, and peace, thereby enhancing readers' comprehension of Nabati poetry and its cultural relevance.

The Creative Personality award was bestowed upon Emirati poet Mohammed Rashid Al Shamsi, who has earned admiration for his extensive contributions in diverse poetic forms and his pivotal role in revitalizing traditional Emirati performance arts such as Al Razeef. His influence has shaped many poets and performers across the Emirates.

The Kanz Al Jeel Award persists in motivating future generations by intertwining tradition with innovative expression. By honoring poetry, visual arts, and academic research, this award fortifies the bond between heritage and modern creativity, ensuring that the storied legacy of Nabati poetry is upheld.