Representative of His Highness the Emir: The Albabtain Award reflects the grandeur of Arab literature and its renewed brilliance in the realm of creativity.

Albabtain: We renew our pledge and commitment to remain custodians of our father’s legacy.

Al-Wiqayan: Three decades... The late friend Abdulaziz Albabtain consistently carried the concern of declining interest in poetry.

Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad, may he be safeguarded and blessed, the 19th Session of the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation commenced with an exceptional ceremony held at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre to honour the distinguished achievements of poets and critics awarded the Foundation’s prestigious awards. The Session bears the name of the late poet Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, commemorating his enduring poetic and cultural legacy.

The ceremony began as distinctive and exceptional in its events and guests, with the opening delivered by His Excellency, the Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi - representing His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait - amidst a large gathering of writers, intellectuals, politicians, diplomats, and Arab thought leaders. They were joined by the Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Al-Yahya, as well as former Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly, Marzouq Al-Ghanim, along with the presence of leaders from the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters.

The opening ceremony commenced with the national anthem of Kuwait, followed by a heartfelt recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an, read by Sheikh Mishary Al-Afasy.

In his opening speech, the representative of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait welcomed the guests to their second home, Kuwait, conveying His Highness’s greetings and expressing his pride in representing him at this prestigious cultural gathering.

He added, "It is a great honour for me to convey the greetings of His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (may Allah preserve and protect him), who graciously bestowed his patronage upon this celebration."

Al-Mutairi conveyed His Highness the Amir’s wishes for this initiative and for the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation to continue its leading role in serving Arab culture.

He emphasized that this gathering, imbued with the essence of poetry and the fragrance of words, is not merely a fleeting celebration, but a testament to the fact that culture is the soul that enlivens nations and the bridge that leads us towards a future abundant with tolerance, coexistence, and love. "These are the deep-rooted values we have drawn from our noble Islamic faith and inherited from our forebears, passed down from generation to generation. We are committed to preserving and enriching them with all that is human and noble."

He continued, "Our gathering today is not only a tribute to those who have mastered the art of words and built the foundations of literature, but also a call to draw inspiration from the rich cultural legacy left to us by the late poet Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain, may he rest in peace. He was, and will remain, a towering cultural figure who embodied the beauty of words and the nobility of message. His message, which bridges civilizations, reflects the values that unite diverse cultures. It was through his pioneering initiatives that the Arab world came to be known for its poetry, while also offering the West its human dimension, making poetry a bridge that connects hearts and a key to dialogue between cultures."

He added, "Culture is not merely an intellectual luxury or an escape from the challenges of life, but rather a powerful force that reshapes the world and inspires hope. In Kuwait, we recognise that cultural revival is a cornerstone of building a strong, tolerant society capable of confronting both present and future challenges. Therefore, culture in all its forms enjoys generous support from His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, may Allah preserve and protect him, His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, may Allah preserve and protect them all."

Al-Mutairi concluded, "Today, at this luminous moment, you are crown­ing shining efforts and adding new foundations to the edifice of our Arab culture, which has long stood as a beacon of human civilization. This also serves as a message to future generations that enlightened thought and sincere words are the strongest weapons for confronting the challenges of our time."

The Promising Hope

In turn, Saud Albabtain, Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, addressed the audience, saying: "The happiest moments for us are those that bring us together with you, the enlightened creators. You are the radiant face of our authentic Arab culture, the promising hope for a new tomorrow filled with goodness and growth. I can only echo what your poet, Ahmed Shawqi, once said: 'You are the people, O poets.'"

He also expressed his gratitude to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad, for graciously accepting to patronage this celebration. "I had the honor of meeting His Highness alongside my brothers after the passing of our father, Abdulaziz Albabtain. I will never forget His Highness’s words to us: 'Your father left you a material legacy, and I am certain that you will preserve it. But he also left a cultural legacy, and I hope you will continue it.' We are, God willing, committed to this promise."

Albabtain also expressed his gratitude to the representative of the event’s patron, Minister of Information and Culture, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, and to all attendees, "for honoring our invitation to celebrate poetry – the first art of the Arabs throughout the ages – in recognition of the poets and critics who have contributed their talents, and in tribute to this year’s honored poet, who has dedicated himself to the care of Arab poetry and the service of Arab culture with sincerity, commitment, and unwavering effort throughout his life, without fatigue or hesitation."

Albabtain highlighted that his late father was characterized by deep loyalty to his faith, Arab heritage, homeland, colleagues, friends, and all those who worked alongside him. "On the occasion of speaking about this, I extend my heartfelt love and gratitude to a person who is absent from us today due to health issues – Uncle Abdulkarim Saud Albabtain, who was the pillar and support for our father, may he rest in peace."

He added, "Likewise, the other person who deserves our utmost loyalty is the esteemed writer, Abdulaziz Al-Sirayye’, who accompanied my father throughout his journey. I invite him to deliver the Foundation’s speech on my behalf."

At the conclusion of his speech, Albabtain announced the doubling of the award values starting from this session and for future editions of the Abdulaziz Albabtain Award for Poetry Creativity.

Unconditional Support

In turn, the poet Dr. Khalifa Al-Wiqayan delivered the winners' speech, in which he expressed his gratitude to the Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain Cultural Foundation, praising its unwavering support for cultural activities both within and outside Kuwait.

He added, "At this joyful cultural gathering, memories flood back of meetings spanning over three decades, in which our dearly departed friend, Abdulaziz Albabtain, always carried the concern of diminishing interest in poetry, and in which he laid the groundwork for the establishment of a foundation dedicated to serving this noble art. The Foundation's work then expanded to an international horizon, focusing on the issue of 'Dialogue between Cultures and Civilizations.' There is much to be said about the achievements of this cultural institution, thanks to the efforts of our cherished departed friend, Abdulaziz Albabtain, whose presence I see with us today in this gathering through his sons, led by their elder brother, Saud Abdulaziz Albabtain. They continue, as we witness, to serve and uphold culture."

Dr. Al-Wiqayan concluded his speech by congratulating the fellow winners of the Foundation’s Awards for this edition, as well as expressing his gratitude for earning the trust of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and its respective committees.

In the meantime, Kuwaiti poet Raja Al-Qahtani recited a poem titled "Radiance of Kuwait" from the poetry of the late Abdulaziz Albabtain, which received a strong and enthusiastic response from the audience.

It is worth noting that the activities of the 19th edition will continue over three days, from the evening of Sunday, 15th to the evening of Tuesday, 17th December of this year. The Session will be hosted at the Abdulaziz Albabtain Central Library for Arabic Poetry and features five literary panels. The first panel, titled "Abdulaziz Albabtain: Perspectives and Testimonials," will be followed by four panels presenting eight research papers on the honored poet, Abdulaziz Saud Albabtain. Additionally, there will be three poetry evenings, during which twenty-seven poets will perform.

The Insightful Vision

Al-Mutairi mentioned that Albabtain’s insightful vision goes beyond mere spoken or written words, instead forming a comprehensive project dedicated to preserving the Arabic language, enhancing its presence in various arenas, and solidifying the concepts of cultural dialogue and human connection.

The Message of Poetry and Culture

Al-Sirayye’ recalled the achievements of his longtime companion, Abdulaziz Albabtain, expressing his joy "on this cherished and meaningful occasion for all of us." He added, "In August 1991, I was serving as the Director of the Culture Department at the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters. Through the experience I gained from my colleagues, I began working with ‘Abu Saud’ on this Foundation, and by God’s grace, we succeeded in many endeavors, driven by his belief in the message of poetry and culture as a means to enrich societies and foster their flourishing."

The Winners

• The winner of the Honorary Poetry Creativity Award is Dr. Khalifa Al-Wiqayan, with a prize value of 100,000 USD.

• The joint winners of the Poetry Criticism Creativity Award, valued at 80,000 USD each, are Dr. Ahmed Boubeker Joua from Tunisia and Dr. Wahab Ahmed Rumiyah from Syria.

• The winner of the Best Poetry Collection Award, valued at 40,000 USD, is poet Latifa Hassani from Algeria.

• The winner of the Best Poem Award, valued at 20,000 USD, is poet Abdulmonem Al-Okbi from Egypt.

• The winner of the Best Poetry Collection for Young Poets Award, valued at 20,000 USD, is poet Jafar Hajawi from Palestine.