Winners of 19th Edition of Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award Announced
The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award has announced on Sunday the winners of its 19th edition, recognising the exceptional contributions of four distinguished Arab writers and thinkers in their respective fields. The winners include Iraqi poet Hamid Said who claimed the Poetry Award, while Iraqi novelist Inaam Kachachi was awarded the Short Story, Novel and Drama Award. The Literary Studies and Criticism award was awarded to Moroccan critic Hamid Lahmadi, while Tunisian thinker Abdeljalil Al Tamimi was honoured with the Humanities and Future Studies Award. Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Secretary-General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, said that the award’s judging committee selected this group of distinguished Arab writers and thinkers in recognition of their outstanding contributions to their respective fields and for their works that have enriched literature and culture across the Arab world. The Secretary-General stated: “After extensive deliberations among the the 19th edition’s jury members, it was decided to award the Poetry Award to poet Hamid Said for the coherence of his poetic journey and his deep engagement with both Arab and global cultural heritage. His work reflects a profound awareness of the evolution of Arabic poetry, capturing its interconnected artistic and historical dimensions.” He added that Hamid Said’s poetry draws its substance and aesthetic from a life marked by both pain and hope, coupled with a deep understanding of the challenges of the era—culminating in a poignant and evocative body of work that echoes the nation’s aspirations for a more beautiful and just future. The jury awarded the Short Story, Novel and Drama Prize to Iraqi novelist Inaam Kachachi in recognition of her distinguished literary work, which skillfully weaves together documentary and narrative elements. Her writing explores complex themes such as identity, exile, alienation, psychological fragmentation, and nostalgia—offering a rediscovery of the […]