The 16th Edition of Al Burda Award

Poets, calligraphers, artists and typographers are invited to register and submit their works

In its 16th edition, Al Burda Award is a global platform that adopts the diversity of Islamic culture and its aesthetic practices and seeks to revitalize the Islamic culture and artistic movement. In addition, in 2018, the Ministry introduced the Al Burda Festival, a biennial initiative that presents a global space for creative leaders, scholars, artists, and community members to collaborate, exchange insights, and co-create Islamic art and culture ideas. While paying tribute to traditional forms of Islamic art, the Festival also explores how artists use contemporary practices, materials and approaches.

The Award recognizes creativity and excellence in the practice of traditional Islamic disciplines. It pays tribute to the complexity of the Arabic language by receiving original submissions from poets, calligraphers, and artists. As of 2018, Al Burda Award had over 300 winners in recognition of their outstanding work.

Al Burda Award has traditionally celebrated three disciplines:

Poetry (Classical and Nabati)

Calligraphy (Classical and Contemporary)

Ornamentation (Tezhip)

In a bid to expand the creative facets of the Award, the 16th edition introduces a new 4th category:

Arabic Typography

Key Dates

Registration of interest - 17 May - 26 July 2021

Submission and uploading artwork - 26 July - 01 Oct 2021

Receiving shipped artwork by MCY* - 15 Sep - 15 Oct 2021

*Applicable only to the calligraphy and ornamentation categories. The applicants need to ship their artwork in time to be received by MCY before 15 Oct.