UAE Hosts the 19th Al Burda Awards Celebrating Islamic Creativity

Recently, the Ministry of Culture wrapped up the 19th Al Burda Awards at Louvre Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The event gathered leading cultural and artistic figures from both the UAE and around the globe to celebrate excellence in Islamic arts.

This year’s awards focused on exceptional contributions in Arabic calligraphy, poetry, illumination, and typographic design, all under the theme of “Social Cohesion and Solidarity.” This theme aligns with the Year of Community 2025, emphasizing the importance of building connections and fostering unity. The ceremony showcased how arts and culture serve to enhance community understanding and social bonds.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, noted that the Al Burda Awards have offered a modern lens on Islamic arts while ensuring the preservation of their authenticity. He remarked that the awards have evolved into a global platform for recognizing creativity in various artistic domains, enhancing cultural dialogue and espousing values of beauty and mutual respect.

This year observed a remarkable increase, with over 1,300 submissions from artists across 50 nations, indicating a 23 percent rise compared to the last edition. The varied entries reflect a growing global fascination with Islamic art and its contemporary interpretations.

In the Typographic Design category, Wisam Alsaegh secured first place, followed by Nur Syamsi and Yasmin Naeem. In Contemporary Calligraphy, first place was awarded to Mohamadreza Bashiri, with Mehdi Zamani Boloukani and Nagat Farouk Ibrahim Soliman placing second and third, respectively. Creatives Mohammad Saeed Naghashian and Reihaneh Keshtgar Ghasemi were also acknowledged.

Within Traditional Calligraphy, Ahmed Elhawary took the top position, followed by Dr. Belal Mokhtar Salah Atia and Meryem Nuruzihalilani. Other notable mentions included Ahmadali Namazi and a tie for fifth between Ali Mamdou and Ijaz Rahim. In Traditional Illumination, Mohsen Moradi claimed first, with Zahra Doosti and Habibulrahman Soltani following. Elham Golafrouz Nafouti, Afsaneh Mahdavi, and Alireza Abasalt were also recognized for their efforts.

In the Contemporary Illumination category, winners included Nadir Tatar (first), Mihriban Beyza Kaya (second), and Narges Momeni (third). In Classical Arabic Poetry, Nashwa Gad took first place, supported by Emad Abo Ahmad and Hasan Mubarak Alrubih in the subsequent spots. Fadila Adimi and Mouaz Ouyoun earned encouragement awards. For Nabati Poetry, Hamad Almutiri, Abdullah Ali Mubarak AlHajri, and Abdul Aziz Al-Omairi took the top honors, while Free Verse Poetry saw Zohair Altaheri, Salma Jaffeli, and Ahmed Salama Selim Abed come out on top.

The event featured an artistic program themed “Beauty in Unity,” encompassing five musical performances and three spoken segments, with a strong emphasis on tradition, harmony, diversity, and cooperation, promoting the idea that unity enhances collective beauty and strength.

The Al Burda Awards seek to honor the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) while encouraging the principles of beauty, harmony, and tolerance. The initiative aims to inspire young artists to delve into Islamic arts and promote cultural interactions worldwide.

Since its inception in 2004, Al Burda has emerged as a pivotal global platform for Islamic arts, enhancing the UAE’s status as a center for cultural diversity, artistic merit, and meaningful dialogue among creatives.