Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Inaugurates the First Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival
His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, inaugurated the first session of the Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival today. The festival is held under His Highness's patronage at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC), and its activities will continue until October 15.
His Highness attended the festival's opening ceremony and, during his visit, inspected several pavilions and platforms, including the platform dedicated to the poetry of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him. He also visited pavilions representing participating countries, where he met with a group of distinguished writers and poets. His Highness praised their works and their role in enriching the literary scene of the United Arab Emirates and the Arab world, preserving cultural heritage, and enhancing the status of the Arabic language.
His Highness emphasized that the Abu Dhabi Poetry Festival reaffirms the emirate's efforts and role in preserving and safeguarding the cultural heritage of the United Arab Emirates by focusing on both types of Arabic poetry, Nabati and classical. This broadens the base of the audience interested in poetry, supports this art form, and ensures its continuity. His Highness also highlighted Abu Dhabi's ongoing efforts to encourage new generations, develop their poetic talents, and create opportunities to strengthen communication between writers and thinkers from around the world, enhance literary content, and promote cultural exchanges.
During the visit, His Highness was accompanied by His Excellency Zaki Anwar Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to His Highness the President of the State and Supreme President of the United Arab Emirates University, His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, His Excellency Major General Pilot Faris Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Commander-in-Chief of the Abu Dhabi Police and Chairman of the Festival and Cultural and Heritage Programs Management Committee, and His Excellency Ahmed Jassim Al Zaabi, Chairman of the Department of Economic Development - Abu Dhabi.
The festival, organized by the Festival and Cultural and Heritage Programs Management Committee of Abu Dhabi, in cooperation with the Emirates Heritage Club, has attracted over 1,000 poets and a select group of writers, researchers, and media professionals interested in poetry from various countries worldwide to celebrate Arabic poetry.
The festival also hosts the Abu Dhabi Poetry Conference, with activities running until October 14. The event features a series of specialized cultural seminars and poetry evenings attended by writers from Arab countries. Additionally, there is a special area for children, an exhibition of poetry collections and specialized literary publications, and a dedicated space for poets and writers to sign their books and new publications.