The events of the first day of the Arab Poetry Spring Festival, organized by Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, commenced today, Sunday (24/3/2019). The festival was held on the stage of Albabtain Central Library for Arab Poetry at Albabtain Cultural Foundation. It featured performances by poets Karim Al-Iraqi and Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, with poetic remarks delivered by Dr. Saad bin Thaqil Al Ajmi, and the evening was hosted by Khawla Saleeqa.

The festival began with the screening of a short documentary commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the establishment of the Foundation. Following that, the Chairman of the Foundation delivered the opening speech, in which he stated:

"I am delighted to welcome all of you to Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, within the premises of Albabtain Central Library for Arab Poetry. I extend my warmest welcome to the participating poets in this year's festival, which marks the twelfth edition in the series of festivals that the Foundation has been organizing annually since 2008. The festival coincides with the celebration of the 'World Poetry Day,' designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on the 21st of March each year as a global day to honor poetry and poets, with festivals held worldwide."

"In conjunction with our celebration here in Kuwait, we share the city of Verona, Italy, through the World Academy of Poetry, of which I have the honor of serving as Honorary President since 2011. They are also organizing diverse celebrations and poetry evenings for poets from various countries and in multiple languages, all advocating for peace."

"The festival aims to foster cultural exchange and artistic expression, honoring the rich heritage of poetry and its role in promoting peace and understanding among nations."

"Poetry remains our path, just as it was for those who preceded us in expressing our human emotions and overflowing feelings. It embodies the essence of our culture, and our commitment to poetry and its elevation will continue to be a central goal at the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation. We are dedicated to organizing poetry festivals, evenings, and diverse events to enhance the status of Arab poetry (The Register of the Arabs) among people. Despite the advancements in technology and modern means of communication, poetry still constitutes a prominent cultural feature of our Arab nation. It continues to document events, extol virtues, and evoke ecstasy in hearts."

"As the activities of Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation continue to evolve and diversify, expanding its centers and interests, particularly in promoting a culture of peace in the world, poetry remains one of our core interests. We firmly believe that poetry is a vital tool in the culture of peace and intercultural dialogue."

"In this regard, the Foundation published the "Arabs' Epic for Peace," a lengthy poetic composition involving the participation of 113 poets. It comprises four thousand verses, all in a single meter and rhyme scheme, spanning over four hundred pages. The Foundation produced it in a luxurious edition and presented it to Arab readers in 2017."

"Furthermore, in 2018, it was translated into English and shared with various foreign entities, including cultural centers, research institutions, and foreign embassies in Kuwait. This translation aimed to underscore the Arabs' pursuit of peace and their profound love for it."

"In this festival, we are delighted to focus solely on poetry without getting distracted by other activities, such as panel discussions or others. It brings us joy to dedicate the second poetry evening to young poets, encouraging and inspiring their talents, and providing a nurturing environment for every creative endeavor. The young poets have been close to the heart of the foundation when I announced the awards for the best poetry collection and best poem by poets under the age of thirty-five. Many of them have won these awards in previous years."

"Moreover, their importance is evident in the establishment of the "Albabtain Academy for Arabic Poetry" by the Foundation. This Academy aims to refine their talents and equip them with the art of poetry, covering various aspects of language and eloquence."

"During this festival, the Foundation has released eleven diverse publications on poetry and its studies, all of which are available for you to obtain and explore as you please."

Then, Albabtain recited a poem titled "The Eternal Creativity".