Page 14 - MINISTRY OF CULTURE PR REPORT - JUNE 2025

Ministry of Culture Launches the 19th Edition of ‘Al Burda
Award’ with the Theme of “Social Cohesion and Unity”

th
Abu Dhabi, June 25, 2025: The Ministry of Culture has launched the 19 edition of ‘Al Burda

Award’, which this year is centred around the theme of “Social Cohesion and Unity.” This
aligns with the UAE’s declaration of the “Year of the Community” and reinforces the noble
values of the Prophet’s teachings, aiming to build a cohesive society grounded in tolerance and
coexistence.

Al Burda Award is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, who emphasised that the award reflects
the UAE’s leading role in supporting and nurturing Islamic arts. It also aligns with the UAE’s
strategy to introduce Islamic art to global audiences, preserve its rich heritage and highlight the
values of tolerance, which is inherent in Islamic culture.

H.E. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, stated that Al Burda Award
embodies the UAE’s vision of promoting shared human values and reinforcing the role of
Islamic arts as a bridge for dialogue and cultural exchange among nations and peoples. H.E.
noted that art is a universal language capable of expressing values that unite us.

H.E. further emphasized that Islamic arts contribute to spreading the message of tolerance and
coexistence, while reviving a rich heritage from which we draw lessons in unity and harmony.
H.E. called on all creatives from across the Islamic world to participate in this edition with
works that reflect the beauty and spirit of Islamic art.
This year, the award draws its theme from Surah Al-Hujurat, verse13: “O mankind, indeed We
have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know
one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.
Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted”. It is also inspired from a famous verse of the Burda
poem by Imam Al-Busiri: "Mohamed is the master of the two worlds and of both realms —
mankind and jinn, Arabs and non-Arabs alike."

The award consists of three main categories: Arabic Calligraphy, which includes classical,
contemporary, and typographic design; Arabic Poetry, featuring classical, Nabati, and free
verse forms; and Ornamentation, including both traditional and contemporary approaches.

The Ministry of Culture has allocated AED 210,000 in prizes for the top three winners in each
of the classical and Nabati poetry categories, and AED 160,000 for the top three winners in the
free verse poetry category. In Arabic calligraphy, AED 210,000 in prizes have been allocated
to the top five winners in both the traditional and contemporary categories, along with AED
160,000 for the top three winners in the typographic design category. For ornamentation, AED

ماع General
e
n
al
r
e
ا
م
ع
G