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.

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Petrarch: Everywhere a Wanderer
Christopher Celenza,
Reaktion Books

Why it pays to compare

A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.

Route 1: bank transfer

The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.

Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount

Total received: €4,670.30 

Route 2: online platform

The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.

Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction

Total received: €4,756

The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

The five pillars of Islam
How does ToTok work?

The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store

To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.

The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.

Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.

 

'The Lost Daughter'

Director: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Dakota Johnson

Rating: 4/5

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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

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Water waste

In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.

Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.

A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.

The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
LILO & STITCH

Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders

Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

Rating: 4.5/5

While you're here
Racecard

2pm Handicap Dh 90,000 1,800m

2.30pm Handicap Dh120,000 1,950m

3pm Handicap Dh105,000 1,600m

3.30pm Jebel Ali Classic Conditions Dh300,000 1,400m

4pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m

4.30pm Conditions Dh250,000 1,400m

5pm Maiden Dh75,000 1,600m

5.30pm Handicap Dh85,000 1,000m

 

The National selections:

2pm Arch Gold

2.30pm Conclusion

3pm Al Battar

3.30pm Golden Jaguar

4pm Al Motayar

4.30pm Tapi Sioux

5pm Leadership

5.30pm Dahawi

Updated: December 18, 2024, 5:54 AM`