Over 7,000 poets in UAE poetry competition

Abu Dhabi: Over 7000 poets from 30 countries including India took part in a competition for classical Arabic poetry organised by Abu Dhabi authorities.

Sultan Al Amimi, director of the Poetry Academy and member of the organising committee for the "Prince of Poets", announced that all works entered into the fourth session of the grand competition has now been reviewed and screened.

"We received entries from both inside and outside the Arab world. Among the participants were poets from the US, India, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Belgium and Nigeria," said Amimi.

"We have been in contact with a number of poets who have been selected by the organising committee," he noted.

Candidates are required to include a brief biography with their work showing their date of birth, their literary activities or achievements, and their permanent address.

The "Prince of Poets" is a cultural competition that was launched in Abu Dhabi in April 2007 by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH). It wishes to revive the positive role of Arabic poetry within Arabic culture and increase its world-wide human interest, emphasizing its inherent message of peace and love to the whole world.

By IANS/WAM, Oct 19,2010