The Ministry of Culture launched Al Burda Award in 1425 H (2004 G) to commemorate the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). In its 20th edition, the Award celebrates the theme of “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion,” reflecting the profound legacy of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in instilling values that foster strong, cohesive, and interconnected families. The family remains the fundamental pillar upon which a resilient and thriving society is built.
The theme for this edition is inspired by verse (36) of Surah An-Nisa:
“Serve Allah and ascribe no partner to Him. Do good to your parents, to near of kin, to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin and to the neighbor who is a stranger, and to the companion by your side, and to the wayfarer, and to those whom your right hands possess. Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful.”
The Award reinforces the key role of the UAE in supporting Islamic art through its efforts to preserve the artistic heritage of the Islamic civilisation and promote outstanding artworks to a global audience.
HIS HIGHNESS SHEIKH ABDULLAH BIN ZAYED AL NAHYAN
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Current edition
The 20th edition of Al Burda Award celebrates the aesthetics of the Islamic culture in honor of the biography of the Prophet (PBUH), in line with the declaration of the UAE of the “Year of the Family”, and to reinforce the virtue of the Prophet (PBUH) in strengthening family bonds, as the family is the fundamental pillar upon which a strong and prosperous society is based.
The theme for this edition “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion,” is inspired by verse (36) of Surah An-Nisa:
“Serve Allah and ascribe no partner to Him. Do good to your parents, to near of kin, to orphans, and to the needy, and to the neighbor who is of kin and to the neighbor who is a stranger, and to the companion by your side, and to the wayfarer, and to those whom your right hands possess. Allah does not love the arrogant and the boastful.”
The verse presents a comprehensive model of family, in which the devotion to Allah is reflected through kindness within the family, making the family a school of values and a starting point for a compassionate and cohesive society.
The Award includes three poetry categories: Classical Poetry, which is composed according to the rules of Arabic prosody and adheres to a single rhyme and a fixed metrical structure; Nabati Poetry, which is Arabic poetry composed in the vernacular dialects of the Arabian Peninsula; and Free Verse, which allows poets greater creative freedom of expression.
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Registration and Digital Artwork Submission via the form on the award website
23 Apr - 22 Aug 2026
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Shipping the Physical Artwork for Calligraphy and Ornamentation Categories to the Ministry
23 Aug - 07 Sep 2026
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