Under the patronage and presence of Abdullah bin Zayed… the launch of the Sultan Al Owais centenary celebration at Dubai Opera

Under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, the activities of the “Centenary of the Late Poet Sultan Al Owais” were launched. On this occasion, the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation organized a huge concert held at the Dubai Opera.

The ceremony was attended, alongside His Highness, by His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, His Excellency Abdul Rahman bin Mohammed Al Owais, Minister of Health and Community Protection, members of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and a number of public figures.

His Excellency Dr. Sulaiman Musa Al Jassim, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, said in his speech during the ceremony: “We are honored to have you join us in this orchestral concert that is being held to mark the launch of the activities of the centenary of Sultan Al Owais, this poet who spared no effort, money or time in He supported culture and intellectuals, and devoted his life to the service of thought and creativity.”

Al-Jassem stressed: “This event is made more honorable by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, leader of UAE diplomacy, supporter of thought, culture and arts, and symbol of interest in strengthening Emirati identity in various forums.”

He added: “Your presence among us today expresses the vision of our wise leadership in supporting creativity in all its forms, thus consolidating the UAE’s position as an incubator of culture and a forum for creative people from different parts of the world.”

He pointed out that this event is not just a concert, but rather a message that expresses the depth of the connections between different arts, and shows how creativity can be a bridge for dialogue and communication between cultures.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the year 2025 as the year to celebrate the centenary of the poet Sultan Al Owais (1925-2025).

The concert, presented by the traditional symphony band, which included more than 60 musicians and singers, led by Maestro Muhammad Al-Qahum, began with a group of Gulf heritage pieces, interspersed with sung passages from poems by the poet Sultan Al Owais. The band also presented forms of the Gulf musical heritage in a contemporary way, while the audience chanted, The rhythm of musical heritage, songs stuck in memory from the cultural conscience of the region.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Dr. Sulaiman Musa Al-Jassem presented the Al Owais Foundation Memorial Shield to Maestro Muhammad Al-Qahum and his band, thanking them for the authentic art they presented and wishing them success in their efforts to preserve an artistic identity filled with the cultural energy of creative melodies.

The ceremony was attended by more than 1,800 spectators from different cultural backgrounds, given the great cultural value represented by the poet Sultan Al Owais, who is considered one of the most prominent and brilliant poets of the UAE, and the creative presence represented by the musician Mohammed Al Qahum on the artistic scene.