Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) has announced the formation of the Higher Committee for the fifth edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award, chaired by Emirati academic and critic Dr. Aysha Juma Al Shamsi. The committee includes Emirati poet Obaid bin Qadlan Al Mazrouei, Kuwaiti researcher Dr. Abdullah Maneh Ghleis, Jordanian calligrapher Muntasir Fathi, and Saudi poet Ali Al Sabaan.
According to Emirates News Agency, Dr. Al Shamsi emphasized that the award reflects the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's Founding Father, in promoting the Arabic language and folk heritage as a source of inspiration for future generations. She acknowledged the contributions of previous Higher Committees in strengthening the award's position and stated that the new committee would continue efforts to deepen the award's impact and expand its reach while maintaining credibility, integrity, and transparency.
The Higher Committee's role includes steering and overseeing the Kanz Al Jeel Award, selecting the Reading, Screening, and Judging Panels, and reviewing their nominations. It also proposes recommendations for developing the award and strengthening its stature and impact, in line with the ALC's vision to reinforce Nabati poetry's role as a fundamental component of Emirati cultural identity.
The Kanz Al Jeel Award comprises six categories, all previously won by current Higher Committee members in earlier editions. These include Poetry Matching, Studies and Research, Poetic Publications, Creative Personality, Translation, and Arts. Since its inception in 2021, the award has become a leading literary platform supporting Nabati poetry and folk literature, particularly among younger generations. In its previous edition, the award received 830 submissions from 19 Arab countries and 16 non-Arab countries, with nine participating for the first time.
