The Ministry of Culture launched the Al Burda Award in 1425 AH / 2004 CE in celebration of the birth anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In its twentieth edition this year, the Award adopts the theme “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion”, reflecting the Prophet Muhammad’s profound role in establishing the values that contribute to building a cohesive and closely bonded family, as the family remains the fundamental pillar of a strong and prosperous society.
For this edition, the Award draws inspiration from Verse 36 of Surah An-Nisa’:
﴾ Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the distant neighbour, the companion at your side, the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and 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
The20th edition of the Al Burda Award celebrates the aesthetics of Islamic culture in honour of the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. It also aligns with the United Arab Emirates’ declaration of the Year of the Family and reflects the Prophet’s enduring role in establishing the foundations of the family, which remains the essential pillar upon which a strong and prosperous society is built.
For this edition, the Award draws inspiration for its theme, “Family.. Tranquillity and Compassion,” from Verse 36 of Surah An-Nisa’:
﴾ Worship Allah and associate nothing with Him, and show kindness to parents, relatives, orphans, the needy, the near neighbour, the distant neighbour, the companion at your side, the wayfarer, and those whom your right hands possess. Indeed, Allah does not like those who are self-deluding and boastful ﴿. This verse presents a holistic model of family life, in which one’s relationship with God is reflected through benevolence within the family. In this way, the family becomes a school of values and the 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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