The Al Owais Cultural Foundation, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Center for the Arabic Language, hosted a seminar titled “A Century Since the Birth of Sultan Al Owais – A Cultural Beacon of the Arab World” during its participation in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. This event celebrated the centenary of poet Sultan bin Ali Al Owais.
Participants in the seminar included His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Mur, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation; Saudi media figure and writer Mohammed Redha Nasrallah; poet Dr. Nagy Beydoun; and poet and writer Dr. Haneen Omar, with the session moderated by Abd Al-Hamid Ahmed, Secretary-General of the Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
Abd Al-Hamid Ahmed emphasized the significance of the seminar in celebrating the Year of Sultan Al Owais, as declared by UNESCO, honoring the contributions of Sultan Al Owais (1925 – 2025).
During the discussion, His Excellency Mohammed Al Mur shared insights about his 30-year relationship with Sultan Al Owais, recalling his frequent visits to Al Owais’ gathering in Damascus, which was enriched by numerous Syrian and Lebanese intellectuals, fostering a vibrant environment of knowledge and culture. He highlighted Sultan Al Owais’ social and economic influence both within and beyond the UAE, as well as his profound impact on Arab culture.
Additionally, Mohammed Redha Nasrallah presented a paper titled “Between Nobel Dynamite and Al Owais’ Pearls”, while Haneen Omar’s contribution was titled “In the Wake of the Sea: The Philosophical and Heritage Manifestations in the Poetry of Sultan Al Owais”.
Nagy Beydoun remarked, “Al Owais’ support extended beyond the realms of culture and intellectuals; he was also deeply invested in the industries within the Arab world”.