This Year’s Edition Of the Al Burda Awards: Why It Was So Special

by Sahira Dharamshi

This Year’s Edition Of the Al Burda Awards: Why It Was So Special

28 Dec 2024

Photo: Al Burda Awards

The 18th edition of the Al Burda Awards was held earlier this month at the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi. Established in 2004, the awards celebrated their 20th anniversary this year. This year’s theme of "Al-Noor" (Light) was inspired by Surat Al-Ma’idah, verse 15: “There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book.”

Each edition of the Al Burda Awards showcases the rich history of Islamic art, and this year was no exception. This year’s edition featured participation from over 1,080 artists representing 50 countries worldwide. Notably, three new award categories were introduced: Freestyle Poetry, Contemporary Ornamentation, and Typographic Design, complementing the traditional categories of Traditional Arabic Calligraphy, Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy, and Calligraphy — Traditional Ornament.

I attended the event, and as a spectator, walking around and viewing such spectacular pieces of art in the setting of Abu Dhabi’s Louvre Museum was nothing short of breathtaking.

Photo: Al Burda Awards

Before the ceremony commenced, attendees had the opportunity to walk through and admire the myriad of artworks on display. One of the first pieces to catch my eye was Somayeh Khorasani’s A Light Within. This was a Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy piece, as was Daoudi Abdelkader’s The Light of Guidance. However, as I continued exploring the display, it became increasingly difficult to choose a favourite, as each piece was unique in its own way and carried beautiful messages.

Walking through the pieces, entranced by the art and the unique niches of each artist, was an incredible way to guide attendees to the open-air seating area, where the Awards ceremony commenced under the stars. The event began with a speech by His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, who eloquently detailed the significance of the Al Burda Awards and welcomed the 18th edition’s guest of honour: the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Kingdom of Morocco was selected in recognition of its incredible contribution to Islamic arts. During the ceremony, the School of National Crafts and Arts in Tétouan was presented with an appreciation award, honouring the school’s legacy of nurturing young talents across various artistic fields and preserving the country’s heritage. His Excellency Ahmed Al-Tazi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to the UAE, was also in attendance.

Photo: Al Burda Awards

During the ceremony, the audience got to witness a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the UAE Ministry of Culture, represented by His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry, and the Uzbek Art and Culture Development Foundation, represented by Mr. Aziz Bek Manobov, Vice Chairperson of the Foundation. The MoU signifies an enhanced cultural exchange with a focus on revitalising and celebrating shared textile crafts as well as fostering new interpretations and innovations.

The exhibition on display, “When the Sun Rises on the Horizon,” comprised 60 artistic pieces. It was thoughtfully curated by a team that included three Emirati curators who had completed a residency at the Aga Khan Museum in 2024. Aligned with the 18th edition’s theme of “Al-Noor,” the exhibition focused on illustrating Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him and his family) divine guidance through art across various categories.

The Awards concluded with dazzling performances under the title of "Path of Light". The performances embodied the divine guidance of Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him and his family) divine light. There were five chapters: “The Light of Revelation”, “The Light of Brotherhood,” “Light of Mercy,” “Light of Knowledge,” and “Light of Faith.” “Path of Light” was the Awards closing song.

The performances were imbued with strong spiritual elements, mesmerizing the audience as they unfolded, each one a unique journey of artistic brilliance. In particular, Jordanian artist Hind Hamed’s performance was heartfelt and emotionally captivating, as her powerful voice resonated through the open air.

The 18th edition of the Al Burda Awards was an evening filled with creativity, art, culture, and history. Hosting the event at the Louvre, a historic art museum, made it even more special, allowing guests to enjoy arts and culture under the stars — truly an evening well spent!

In the end, I would love to mention all the winners — they are all incredible!

Modern Standard Arabic Poetry Category

Yassin Hizqar — First Place
Najm Al Ali — Second Place
Ahmed Mohsen Ahmed Muhammad Abdul Lahiy — Third Place
Hussein Suleiman Abdullah — Fourth Place
Muhammad Abd Al Raouf Ali Al Tayeb — Fifth Place

Nabati Poetry Category

Awad Al-Awad — First Place
Mohamed Hamdan Al Anazi — Second Place
Badriya Al Badri — Third Place
Ali Mohamed Ibrahim Al Mujaini — Fourth Place
Badr Hamid Muhammad Al Bahlouli — Fifth Place

Traditional Arabic Calligraphy Category

Maryam Norouzi Khalilani — First Place
Ahmed Ali Namazi — Second Place
Abdul Baqi bin Abu — Third Place
Mohamed Al Hamawi — Fourth Place
Saim Gunai — Fifth Place

Contemporary Arabic Calligraphy Category

Daoudi Abdel Qader — First Place
Somaya Khorasani — Second Place
Diaa Al Jazairi — Third Place
Mohamed Saeed — Fourth Place
Reda Jumai — Fifth Place

Calligraphy — Traditional Ornament Category

Afsaneh Mahdavi — Second Place
Mohsen Moradi — Third Place
Mahbouba Ebrahimian — Fourth Place
Rayan Shida Goonen — Fifth Place

Freestyle Poetry Category

Ahmed Al Hattab — First Place
Adel Zaytout — Second Place
Amr Hussein — Third Place

Contemporary Ornamentation Category

Mahbooba Mahdavi — First Place
Fatima Anan Dudukkho — Second Place
Zeinab Shahi — Third Place

Typographic Design Category

Yasmine Naeem — First Place
Ali Orei — Second Place
Doaa Mohammed AlRashidat Abzaid — Third Place

by Sahira Dharamshi