Sheikh Salem bin Khalid al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, gives the award to Reyyan Seyda Gonen in the classical ornamentation category at Al Burda Awards 2024. Pawan Singh / The National
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, gives the award to Reyyan Seyda Gonen in the classical ornamentation category at Al Burda Awards 2024. Pawan Singh / The National
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, gives the award to Reyyan Seyda Gonen in the classical ornamentation category at Al Burda Awards 2024. Pawan Singh / The National
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, gives the award to Reyyan Seyda Gonen in the classical ornamentation category at Al Burda Awards 2024. Pawan Singh / The National

Al Burda Award announces 2024 winners


Maan Jalal
  • English
  • Arabic

Al Burda Awards has announced the 33 winners across eight categories of its 18th year celebrating Islamic arts and culture.

In a ceremony at Louvre Abu Dhabi tonight, the winners were recognised for their contributions to the richness and diversity of Islamic arts, with key figures from around the world showcasing their talents.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, presented the awards at the event, organised by the Ministry of Culture and Youth.

The prize is usually open to poets, calligraphers and artists whose works are inspired by the Prophet Mohammed, the Quran and Hadiths, across three main categories: poetry, Arabic calligraphy and ornamentation.

Artwork by Mohammad Alhamwi on display in the classical Arabic calligraphy category. Pawan Singh / The National
Artwork by Mohammad Alhamwi on display in the classical Arabic calligraphy category. Pawan Singh / The National

These categories also include subcategories. Poetry includes classical, Nabati and free verse. Arabic calligraphy includes classical, contemporary and typography design. Ornamentation includes traditional and contemporary. Free verse poetry, Arabic typography and contemporary ornamentation are new to this year's awards programme.

This year’s artists were asked to submit work that explores the theme of Al Noor, which translates to the light. The theme was inspired by verse 15 of the fifth chapter of the Quran titled Surah Al Maida. The chapter delves into various important themes and focuses on the ideas of faith and belief and refers to the Prophet Mohammed. The concept of light is integral to these themes where the Prophet’s message is seen as a beacon of truth and message for humanity.

Yassine Hazguer was the winner in the category of classical poetry, Awad Alawd was the winner in the Nabati poetry section and Ahmed El Hattab won in the free verse category.

Contemporary Arabic calligraphy art work on display at the Al Burda Award ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National
Contemporary Arabic calligraphy art work on display at the Al Burda Award ceremony. Pawan Singh / The National

Meryem Nevruzihalilani won first place in the classical Arabic calligraphy category. Daoudi Abdelkader won for contemporary Arabic calligraphy.

Yasmin Naeem won first place in typographic design, Afsaneh Mahdavi won in classical ornamentation and Mahboubeh Mahdavi won in the contemporary ornamentation category.

This year, the award also hosted Morocco as the guest of honour and presented the Moroccan National School for Arts with an award of appreciation.

Winners in the three main categories receive a prize of Dh210,000 which will be distributed among the top five winners. The winners in the new sub-categories including free verse poetry, Arabic typography and contemporary ornamentation, will each receive Dh160,000.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The specs

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 420 bhp

Torque: 624Nm

Price: from Dh293,200

On sale: now

Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes

Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

If you go

Flying

Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.

 

Touring

Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com 

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.

The hotels

Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.

The tours

A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages. 

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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo

The specs: 2018 Nissan 370Z Nismo
Price, base / as tested: Dh182,178
Engine: 3.7-litre V6
Power: 350hp @ 7,400rpm
Torque: 374Nm @ 5,200rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
​​​​​​​Fuel consumption, combined: 10.5L / 100km

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

SPECS

Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman

Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: nine-speed automatic

Power: 306hp

Torque: 450Nm

Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Updated: December 18, 2024, 5:54 AM`