Arabs encouraged to be creative

Dubai
|By Bassma Al Jandaly | 16-11-2001
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The results of the seventh Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation (SACF) Award were announced yesterday.

They were declared at a press conference at the J.W. Marriott Hotel, Dubai. It was chaired by Dr Sulaiman Mousa Al Jassem, member of the Trustee Council of the SACF, and attended by Dr Mohammed Abdullah Al Mutawaa, also a member of the Trustee Council, and Abdul Hamid Ahmad, member of the Trustee Council and General Secretary of the SACF.

Dr Al Jassem said this is the seventh year that the award has been given to support the cultural movement in the Arab world. He said: "This award has great importance for creative Arabs because it encourages and supports them."

Some 603 people from 18 Arab countries were nominated for the award for best poetry, story, play, short story, literature and literary criticism, human and future study, and cultural and scientific achievement.

Abdul Hamid Ahmad said the award is for all Arabs, no matter were they live, in an Arab country or abroad. He said: "All litterateurs are welcomed to participate in this award. It is open to everyone who is an Arab and writes in Arabic because Arabic language is of prime importance to this award."

He added that the award will be expanded to cover more areas. Dr Al Jassem said the best poetry award went to Qassim Haddad from Bahrain for his interest in human issues and his creativity. Zakariya Tamer, a Syrian, won best play. He has been writing for over 30 years. He also specialises in writing short stories.

Mohammed Al Bisati from Egypt won best short story, story and play. He is one of the best known writers in the Arab world. Abdul Wahab Al Mesiri from Egypt was awarded for human and future studies. He writes against Zionism. Another award went to Mohsen Jassem Al Mousawi from Iraq for literature and literary criticism, whose studies are regarded as always accurate and unique.

Abdullah Al Mutawaa said the new premises of the foundation will be completed by May next year. The new building has been styled as the late Sultan Al Owais wanted it to be.

The conference was also attended by Abdul Rahman Al Owais, member of the Trustee Council and member of the General Secretary Council, and Abdul Elaah Abdul Qader, Director of the SACF