The Ministry of Culture honors the winners of the International Burda Award 2024

ABU DHABI, 19 December / WAM / Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture organized a ceremony honoring the winners of the International Burda Award 2024 in its eighteenth session at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, coinciding with the twentieth year of its launch. This prestigious award celebrates creative artistic works in traditional Islamic artistic styles.

The honoring ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahhak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Her Excellency Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of State, Her Excellency Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar, Minister of State, and His Excellency Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Emirati Parliamentary Division Group in the Inter-Parliamentary Union, representative of the Geopolitical Group. Arabic in the Federation’s Executive Committee, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, and His Excellency Hoda Ibrahim Al Khamis Kanoo, Founder of the Arabic Language Group Abu Dhabi Culture and Arts, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Tazi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UAE, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Chairman of the Environment and Climate Committee of the Aga Khan Development Network, and Gayane Omerova, President of the Foundation for the Development of Arts and Culture of Uzbekistan, along with a number of ambassadors and officials from Government agencies in the country.

The ceremony began with an opening speech by His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, in which he stressed that the Burdah Award is a global platform that is inspired by the tolerant values ​​of Islam, and highlights the greatness and splendor of Islamic arts, as a language that unites peoples, and a means to enhance cultural dialogue between different civilizations, in line with the endeavors of The UAE seeks to enhance mutual understanding between peoples in the region and the world.

His Excellency welcomed the Kingdom of Morocco, which was chosen as the guest of honor for this year’s session, in recognition of its contributions to the world of Islamic arts, and in confirmation of the award’s commitment to celebrating artistic excellence and Islamic cultural heritage.

During the ceremony, the National School of Crafts and Arts in Tetouan received an award of appreciation, in honor of its long legacy in developing students’ artistic skills in several fields such as sculpture, ceramics, and design, which had a prominent impact in preserving the authentic Moroccan cultural heritage.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Culture, represented by His Excellency Mubarak Al-Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and the Foundation for the Development of Uzbek Arts and Culture, represented by Mr. Aziz Bek Manobov, Vice President of the Foundation, with the aim of enhancing cultural exchange between the two countries, with a focus on Reviving and honoring the shared ancient heritage in the field of textile crafts, and encouraging contemporary visions and interpretations of these authentic creative practices.

The award was inspired by the theme of this session, “Light,” from Surah “Al-Ma’idah,” verse 15 {Certainly there has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book}, and in its current session it attracted more than 1,080 participants from more than 50 countries.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi honored the winners of the award, where the poet Yassin Hizqar was awarded the first prize in the “Eloquent Poetry” category, while the second place went to the poet Najm Al-Ali, and the poet Ahmed Mohsen Ahmed Muhammad Abdul Lahiy came third, and the fourth place went to the poet Hussein Suleiman Abdullah, while the poet Muhammad Abdul Raouf Ali Al-Tayeb came fifth.

In the “Nabati Poetry” category, the poet Awad Al-Awad won first place, followed by the poet Muhammad Hamdan Al-Anazi second, the poet Badriya Al-Badri third, the poet Ali Muhammad Ibrahim Al-Mujaini came fourth, and the fifth place went to Badr Hamid Muhammad Al-Bahlouli.

In the “Traditional Arabic Calligraphy” category, Maryam Norouzi Khalilani won first place, while Ahmed Ali Namazi won second place, Abdul Baqi bin Abu came third, Muhammad Al-Hamawi came in fourth place, and Saim Gunay came fifth.

In the “Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy” category, Daoudi Abdel Qader won first place, Somaya Khorasani came in second place, Dhia Al-Jazairi came third, Muhammad Saeed fourth, and Reda Jumai came in fifth.

In the “Calligraphy – Traditional Ornament” category, Afsaneh Mahdavi came in second place, followed by Mohsen Moradi in third place, then Mahbouba Ebrahimian in fourth place, and in fifth place was Rayan Shida Konen.

The award created three new categories this year: “Free Poetry,” “Contemporary Ornamentation,” and “Typographic Design,” where the poet Ahmed Al-Hattab won first place in the free poetry category, followed by the poet Adel Zaytout in second place, while the poet Amr Hussein came in third. In the “Contemporary Decoration” category, Mahbooba Mahdavi came in first place, Fatima Anan Dudukkhu came in second place, and Zeinab Shahi came in second place. the third.

Yasmine Naeem topped first place, in the “Typographic Design” category, followed by Ali Orei in second place, and Doaa Muhammad Al-Rashidat Abzaid in third place.

The evening included a musical performance entitled “Path of Light,” as an invitation to be inspired by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and embody them in our lives. The attendees enjoyed an immersive spiritual journey through five main chapters, which began with “The Light of Revelation” with the Emirati malad, which symbolizes the dawn of a new dawn with the advent of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. It is followed by “The Light of Brotherhood,” where the sounds of the Emirati Mawlid harmonize with the Moroccan Mawlid in a celebration of brotherhood and the strength of unity, passing through a chapter titled “Nour Mercy,” during which the Moroccan Mawlid Band performed praises of the mercy of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, followed by the “Light of Knowledge” chapter, which was performed by Hind Hamdan, who narrated the longing of the seeker for knowledge and certainty. Then, Pooja Gaitonde presented a chapter entitled “Light of Faith,” with qawwali melodies that touch the soul, concluding the show with a composed song. Titled “Path of Light,” it is performed by a local band.

The exhibition accompanying the award, which is held under the title “When the Sun Rises on the Horizon,” witnessed the presence of His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan.

The exhibition includes 60 unique works of art in the arts of calligraphy, goldsmithing, poetry and contemporary art, and provides visitors and lovers of Islamic art with an immersive interactive experience that embodies the ability of Islamic art to blend classical methods of expression with the spirit of modern creativity in a unique harmony.

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