Al Burda Award

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The Ministry of Culture launched the Al Burda Award in AH 1425 / 2004 AD to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Mohammed (God’s blessing and peace be upon him). Now in its 18th edition of the award celebrates through the concept of 'Al-Noor' (light) which embodies guidance and direction towards the path of truth and goodness. The edition of this award is inspired from the verse (There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book) Surah Almaedah, Verse 15.

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 18th edition of the Burda Award celebrates the aesthetics of Islamic culture by honouring the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the concept of 'Al-Noor (light) which embodies guidance and direction towards the path of truth and goodness.

The edition of this award is inspired from the verse (There has come to you from Allah a light and a clear Book) Surah Almaedah, Verse 15. This represents the arrival of Prophet Mohammed Peace be upon him and that he brought the light to people, and that he received the book of Allah “The Holy Qur'an” through Gabriel (peace be upon him). The aim was to send a divine message to light the path and inspire humans to the goodness as well as clearing the road and overcoming challenges with confidence. With the guiding power of the light, the Prophet (peace be upon him) teaches us how to walk the path of truth and contribute to spreading goodness in the world. Al-Noor (The light) embodied in the message of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the exemplary role from which people draw the meanings of guidance, truth, and goodness.

The award, in its 18th edition, seeks inspiration from this verse through the creative works of creatives in their diverse artistic endeavours, ranging from writing arts to visual arts.

The Classical Poetry focuses on poetry that adheres to the rules of Arabic prosody, maintains a consistent rhyme, and follows a specific metrical pattern with a steady musical rhythm. In addition, the Nabati Poetry is Arabic poetry composed in the dialects of the Arabian Peninsula. Finally, the Free Verse allows young poets to express their creativity in this form of poetry.

Calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting based on the Arabic alphabet. It is divided into traditional Arabic calligraphy, modern Arabic calligraphy, and typographic design for Arabic alphabets.

The Ornamentation category includes the subcategory Traditional Ornamentation, which encompasses Islamic decorations that promote beauty, perfection, and artistic appreciation, contributing to the elevation of human spirit and self-improvement. A sub-category of Modern Ornamentation has also been introduced, aiming to employ authentic and precise decorative elements in geometric and free artistic compositions, expressing the possibility of evolving traditional rules into sensations that enrich the viewer through the elegance of composition and creativity.

Key Dates