Launched in 2021 by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC), the Kanz Al Jeel Award has achieved notable success, establishing itself as one of the top literary awards and cementing its supportive role in documenting the UAE’s rich cultural heritage and celebrating its diversity.

The award strives to support creative thinkers who focus on Emirati heritage, honouring remarkable efforts in that regard, and inspiring authors and researchers to continue producing outstanding projects. It aims to recognise exceptional works of Nabati poetry, research focusing on Emirati folklore, and studies into the authentic values and heritage of Nabati poetry.

Over the past four years, Kanz Al Jeel has established itself as a notable platform, attracting significant numbers of applicants, who view the award as a unique opportunity to bring their creative visions to life and showcase their work to a wider audience. The Poetry Matching category, in particular, provides a dedicated space for poets to engage with and echo the distinguished poetic legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE, ensuring his enduring influence continues to inspire new generations.

Poetry enthusiasts widely regard poetry matching as a distinctive literary phenomenon – a space where poets engage with the timeless masterpieces of the late Sheikh Zayed, drawing inspiration from his profound wisdom, depth of insight, and moral clarity. Through this practice, the participants immerse themselves in the emotive verses from his poems, rife with noble virtues, that have long embodied Nabati poetry and its beauty, cementing its role as a cornerstone of the folk traditions of the Emirates and a reflection of society and its issues, aspirations, and everyday life.

Participating in the award was a significant leap forward in the careers of the many poets who have taken part. Those joining this year stand to gain unparalleled experience, as the Higher Committee has selected the poem “Li Sarat mi Al-Ain Sarrayah” by the late Sheikh Zayed for the Poetry Matching category. The poem is a beautiful blend of emotions, imagery, and moral values, celebrating beauty, dignity, and perseverance. It reflects the deep impact that Arab and Emirati cultural heritage had on the late Founding Father, underlining his unwavering determination to preserve heritage, safeguard human and social knowledge, strengthen community identity, and connect new generations with this type of poetry.

Commenting on the award, Ali Obaid Al Hameli, author, media personality, and Chair of the Award’s Higher Committee, said: “The Kanz Al Jeel Award has played a critical role in revitalizing Nabati poetry and offering the audience the profound meanings and noble ideals that characterise the poetry of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE. The younger generations stand to gain immeasurably by engaging with the poetic treasures found in the legacy of his works.”

“With this vision in mind, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre launched this award as part of its broader commitment to fostering cultural literacy, nurturing emerging poetic talent, and inspiring a new generation to engage with and mirror the late Sheikh Zayed’s great works that serve to highlight, preserve, and develop this authentic artform,” Al Hameli added.

Winners of the Poetry Matching category can take great pride in their achievement, given the award’s truly unique character and the opportunities it provides for further recognition. The award also brings a sense of duty to continue excelling in poetry and presenting greater creative works.

Obaid bin Qadlan Al Mazrouei, winner of the Poetry Matching category in the first edition of the Kanz Al Jeel Award, said: “The award has strived to revive and preserve one of the most important genres of poetry – ‘Mujārāt’ (matching) – which is facing extinction in the present time. It has helped promote the poetry of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to a larger audience, highlighting his poetic masterpieces to a wider base of readers. This makes Kanz Al Jeel one of the most prominent literary awards in the UAE and the Arab world.”

Meanwhile, Ali Al Sabaan, winner of the Poetry Matching category in the award’s second edition, noted: “The Kanz Al Jeel Award carries a truly inspiring message in its concept, timing, and objectives. It celebrates the spirit of folk poetry and pays tribute to our national heritage. I was honoured to be named winner in the second edition of this award, which bears a connection to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founding Father of the UAE. It is an honour that fills the heart with pride and joy, and crowns one’s creative life journey.”

For his part, poet Faisal Al Otaibi, third-edition winner, commented: “The Kanz Al Jeel Award presented an immense opportunity, a window into poetic creativity and excellence, and a platform to explore the rich poetic legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Being selected as winner in this award was a proud and joyful moment that I continue to relive until this day. It is an accomplishment and a memory I will always cherish.”

Every year, the Higher Committee of the Kanz Al Jeel Award selects a poem that differs from what has been honoured in earlier editions. This creates diversity in terms of poetic objectives and further highlights the aesthetic aspects and wise messages of Sheikh Zayed’s poems, which have played a key role in promoting this poetic genre among creative minds and the wider public.

The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre has recently closed submissions for the fourth edition of the award, highlighting its commitment to finding new creative works rooted in local tradition, celebrating this heritage, and strengthening the sense of identity among younger generations.

This also reflects the Centre’s deep commitment to celebrating and honouring the poetic legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, cementing its place in the hearts and minds of the community. Through this, the Centre introduces the public to its timeless inspiration, enduring values, and authentic themes of virtue, love, and tolerance, that infuse his poetry – values which continue to shape and uphold UAE’s national identity and strategic vision today.