Abu Dhabi Gears Up for Eleventh Season of Prestigious “Prince of Poets” Competition
Abu Dhabi, The Gulf Observer: Abu Dhabi will soon welcome poets from around the world as it hosts the eleventh season of the celebrated Prince of Poets competition. Organized by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, this biennial event is one of the Arab world’s largest platforms for discovering and fostering poetic talent. The competition, held at the Al Raha Beach Theatre, is set to kick off with competitive assessments of shortlisted poets in October, culminating in live episodes in December 2024.
In preparation for this season, the Prince of Poets programme committee recently completed its rigorous evaluation process, selecting 150 poets from over 1,000 applicants representing 33 countries, including 14 non-Arab nations—a record in the competition’s history. This impressive diversity highlights the programme’s growing global influence, as poets from countries such as India, the US, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, and Nigeria join their peers from the Arab world.
In a series of eliminations, the committee will narrow down the list of 150 to just 20 poets who will compete in the live episodes, where they will vie for the coveted title of Prince of Poets. The eventual winner will be awarded the prestigious Poetry Burda (cloak), the symbolic Emir (Prince) ring, and a cash prize of AED1 million. Prizes for the runners-up range from AED500,000 for second place to AED100,000 for fifth place.
Since its inception, Prince of Poets has crowned poets from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Mauritania, and the Sultanate of Oman, with Saudi Arabian poets dominating the title in four consecutive seasons. In its landmark tenth season, the competition crowned its first-ever female Prince of Poets, underscoring its commitment to inclusivity and its legacy as a platform for elevating Arabic poetry.
With an established reputation and an expanding global reach, this season promises to be yet another milestone in promoting Arabic verse, connecting poetic talents across borders, and celebrating the rich heritage of Arabic literature on an international stage.
