Nominations open for Burda Award in Arabic Poetry

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026

The Burda Award for Arabic Poetry is inviting poets to submit original Arabic poems celebrating the theme “Family: Tranquility and Mercy” and the cultural and spiritual significance of the Arabic language. Inspired by the renowned Al-Burda poem by Imam Al-Busiri, the award celebrates the literary, cultural, and spiritual heritage of the Arab and Islamic worlds. The poetry competition welcomes original works in three forms: Classical Arabic (Fusha), Free Verse, and Nabati Poetry. Poets can compete for substantial cash prizes, with awards reaching AED 100,000 for first place in the Classical and Nabati poetry categories.

About the Burda Award for Arabic Poetry

The Burda Award for Arabic Poetry recognizes creative excellence in Arabic poetry while promoting the cultural significance of the Arabic language. The award draws inspiration from the celebrated Al-Burda poem by Imam Al-Busiri, connecting contemporary poetic creativity with the longstanding literary and spiritual traditions of the Arab and Islamic worlds. Participants are encouraged to create original poems that respond meaningfully to the current annual theme while meeting the award’s linguistic and technical requirements.

Annual Theme: “Family: Tranquility and Mercy”

The theme for the current cycle is:

“Family: Tranquility and Mercy.”

All submitted poems must address this theme. Poems that do not align with the specified theme will not be considered for the competition. Poets should therefore ensure that the central idea, imagery, and message of their submission clearly relate to family, tranquility, and mercy. Poetry Categories The Burda Award for Arabic Poetry accepts submissions in three forms. Classical Arabic Poetry (Fusha) The Classical Arabic category is intended for poems written in Fusha, the formal and classical form of Arabic. Entries must be original, unpublished, and comply with the applicable linguistic and technical requirements. Free Verse Poetry The Free Verse category recognizes poetry that uses contemporary free-verse structures. Poems must still satisfy the award’s requirements regarding originality, publication status, theme, and submission procedures. Nabati Poetry The Nabati Poetry category celebrates the traditional Arabic vernacular poetic form known as Nabati poetry. Entries must be original and unpublished and must address the annual theme while meeting the applicable technical and linguistic standards. Prize Information The award provides different prize amounts depending on the poetry form. For Classical Arabic and Nabati Poetry, the prizes are:

- First place: AED 100,000.

- Second place: AED 70,000.

- Third place: AED 40,000.

For Free Verse Poetry, the prizes are:

- First place: AED 70,000.

- Second place: AED 50,000.

- Third place: AED 40,000.

The prize structure provides significant recognition for poets working across both classical and contemporary Arabic poetic traditions. Who Can Apply? The award is intended for poets submitting original Arabic poetry in one of the three eligible forms: - Classical Arabic (Fusha). - Free Verse. - Nabati Poetry. Applicants must ensure that their poem satisfies all applicable requirements, including the theme, originality, unpublished status, and technical and linguistic standards. One Poem Per Poet Each poet may submit only one poem per cycle. Applicants should therefore carefully select their strongest eligible work before submitting their application. Submitting more than one poem in the same cycle is not permitted under the stated requirements. Original and Unpublished Work Requirement Submitted poems must meet strict originality requirements.

Eligible poems must be:

- Original. - Unpublished. - Not previously submitted to another competition or award. This means poets should submit a work created specifically for the opportunity and ensure that it has not already been entered elsewhere. Previous Winners and Reapplication Previous first- and second-place winners are subject to a waiting period before they can participate again. Poets who have previously won first or second place must wait two cycles before reapplying. Applicants with previous winning entries should therefore consider their previous award placement and the applicable waiting period before submitting. Submission Method Applications are accepted exclusively through the official online application form. Poets must provide both a written and an audio component as part of the application. The required submission materials include: - A Word document containing the poem. - An audio recording of the poet reading the poem. Applicants should ensure that both components are prepared before completing the online application. Audio Recording Requirement The audio component is an important part of the application. Poets must submit an audio recording of themselves reading their submitted work. The recording should correspond to the poem provided in the Word document so that the written and spoken submissions represent the same original work. Technical and Linguistic Requirements Poems must adhere to the specific technical and linguistic standards applicable to the competition.

Applicants should ensure that their work:

- Uses the appropriate Arabic poetic form. - Meets the required linguistic standards. - Meets the applicable technical requirements.

- Addresses “Family: Tranquility and Mercy.”

- Is original and unpublished. - Has not previously been submitted to another competition or award. - Is accompanied by the required Word document and audio recording. How to Prepare a Strong Submission Poets can improve their submission by carefully combining literary quality with compliance with the award requirements.

Important preparation steps include:

- Select the appropriate poetry form: Choose Classical Arabic, Free Verse, or Nabati Poetry.

- Build the poem around the theme: Make “Family: Tranquility and Mercy” central to the work.

- Create an original poem: Ensure the work is entirely orig