Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – November 12, 2025: The Ministry of Culture announced the conclusion of the judging process for the 19th edition of Al Burda Award, following a comprehensive and in-depth evaluation of all submissions across various Islamic art categories.
The names of the winners will be revealed at Al Burda Award 2025 Ceremony, held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, at the Louvre Abu Dhabi on November 18, 2025.
This year’s edition witnessed strong participation from artists and creatives representing more than 50 countries around the world, reaffirming the UAE’s position as a leading global hub for promoting and elevating Islamic arts at both the regional and international levels. The award reflects the country’s vision of fostering values of tolerance and coexistence through art and culture, particularly as the 2025 edition is held under the theme “Social Cohesion and Unity,” in alignment with the Year of Community in the UAE, celebrating solidarity and harmony through artistic and cultural expression.
The award received 1,326 submissions this year across the categories of Arabic Calligraphy, Arabic Poetry, and Ornamentation, marking a 23% increase compared to the previous edition — a testament to the growing global interest in Islamic arts. The Arab Republic of Egypt topped the list of participating countries, followed by Iran, Syria, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Pakistan, and artists residing in the UAE, underscoring the broad Arab and Islamic presence in this edition.
This year’s edition included 362 artists in Arabic Calligraphy across traditional, contemporary, and typographic design branches, while the Arabic Poetry category recorded the largest number of submissions with 882 entries across classical, Nabati, and free verse poetry. The Ornamentation category received 82 submissions in both traditional and contemporary styles.
Specialized juries comprising a distinguished group of artists, calligraphers, poets, and experts in Islamic arts undertook the task of evaluating submissions across the various award categories. In the Arabic calligraphy category, the jury included Wissam Shawkat, Abdelkader Daoudi, Tagalsir Hassan, Alanood Bukhammas, Mi Guangjiang, Alhaj Nuruddin Mi, and Muthanna Al-Obaidi. In the ornamentation category, the panel consisted of Fouad Blili, Jami Mohammad Yunus, and Musaab Al-Douri. Meanwhile, the poetry jury brought together Kareem Maatouq, Dr. Alaa Ahmed Elsayed, Mohamed Al Bouomrani, Prof. Khaled Kamal Mohamed Al-Taher, Adel Khazzam, Amal Al-Sahlawi, Ali Al-Qahtani, and Nasser Al-Shafeiri.
On this occasion, H.E. Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, stated: “Al Burda Award reflects the Ministry of Culture’s leading role in empowering Islamic arts and enhancing their presence on the global creative scene by bridging authenticity with innovation. The wide participation this year embodies artists’ belief in the power of art to reinforce values of unity and social cohesion — principles that lie at the heart of the UAE’s vision for a harmonious and multicultural society.”
He added: “Over the years, Al Burda Award has cemented its position as a key cultural and artistic platform dedicated to Islamic art, attracting artists and poets from around the world who seek to showcase their creativity and preserve the artistic heritage of Islamic civilization. We remain committed to introducing global audiences to these art forms and highlighting the luminous image of Islamic culture.”
Since its establishment in 2004 in celebration of the Prophet’s Birthday, Al Burda Award has been one of the UAE’s most prominent cultural initiatives organized annually by the Ministry of Culture. Over the years, it has honored more than 390 artists, poets, and calligraphers from around the world, contributing to positioning the UAE as a beacon of creativity, cultural diversity, and a global platform for promoting beauty, tolerance, and human dialogue.
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