Strong turnout at opening evening of Sharjah poetry festival

January 06, 2026 / 2:25 PM

Sharjah24: As part of the 22nd Sharjah Arabic Poetry Festival, the first poetry evening was launched on Monday at the Sharjah Cultural Palace, with a notable attendance. The event was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture; Mohammed Ibrahim Al Qaseer, Director of Cultural Affairs at the Department; and Mohammed Al Breiki, Director of the House of Poetry, alongside a large gathering of poets, critics, intellectuals and lovers of Arabic poetry who filled the palace hall.

Opening and welcome

The evening was presented by Iraqi poet Khaled Al Yassari, who welcomed the festival’s guests to the emirate and praised the efforts and initiatives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, highlighting his generous support for culture and Arabic poetry, which has resulted in significant cultural achievements.

Participating poets

Five poets took part in the evening: Abdulwahid Imran from Yemen, Ahmed Al Fakhri from Libya, Mabrouk Al Sayari from Tunisia, Salah Al Din Al Khou from Mauritania, and Hanan Farfour from Lebanon.

Poetic performances

The evening opened with Yemeni poet Abdulwahid Imran, who recited several poems filled with longing and deep human emotion. His first poem, an elegy for his son who drowned two years ago, conveyed profound grief and sorrow. In his second poem, titled A face completing its carving, he addressed the city of Sana’a, likening its carved ruins to the wrinkles etched on his own face.

Libyan poet Ahmed Al Fakhri followed, presenting poems that expressed personal concerns and heartfelt human stories. From Tunisia, Mabrouk Al Sayari captivated the audience with verses steeped in nostalgia, igniting the imagination of those present. Mauritanian poet Salah Al Din Al Khou then recited a selection of poems reflecting his passion for rhyme and verse.

The evening concluded with Lebanese poet Hanan Farfour, who delivered several emotionally rich poems expressing her poetic sensibility and inner yearning, imbued with melancholy and deep feeling.

Festival programme

The festival, which brings together 80 poets, critics and media professionals, continues until 12 January. Its programme includes daily poetry evenings and an accompanying intellectual symposium titled The emotional trend in Arabic poetry and its transformations, held over two sessions. The first session features Dr Said Bakour of Morocco with a study entitled Emotion and the self: a bridge to the other, and Dr Ahmed Al Joua from Tunisia with a paper on The emotional trend in Arabic criticism, chaired by Dr Mohammed Aboulshawarib from Egypt. The second session includes Dr Mahmoud Al Daba’ from Egypt with Emotion and the formation of cultural identity, and Dr Omar Al Ameri from Jordan with Manifestations of nature in emotional poetry, chaired by Lamia Al Akrabi from Tunisia.