SCFA honours winners of Sharjah Gulf Women Creativity Award

Strengthening fraternal bonds between peoples

In an audio recording broadcast in the ceremony hall, Her Highness said: "My sisters, writers and creatives, we welcome you to the Emirate of Sharjah, a land that cultivated knowledge and reaped culture and creativity. Today, we embrace you to celebrate your winning of the 7th Sharjah Gulf Women Creativity Award (SGWCA).

Her Highness emphasised that SGWCA's goal goes beyond being a culmination of the efforts of creative women in literature and culture. Rather, it is a means for women of literary creativity to come together in an annual event that strengthens the fraternal bonds between their peoples and reinforces the authentic values shared by our peoples over time. 

Honouring Dr. Saeeda bint Khater Al Farsi

Her Highness continued: "Today, I congratulate our creative winners in the fields of poetry, children's literature, and literary studies. This crowning achievement will mark a significant turning point in your careers and a true motivation to continue enriching the Gulf cultural scene. I also congratulate Dr. Saeeda bint Khater Al Farsi from the sisterly Sultanate of Oman, who deservedly received the Cultural Personality Award for this year's edition. She has worked to build a profound career in research, study, and creativity, in addition to social work. She has also reflected the honourable image of Gulf women and culture in general, and Omani culture in particular. May God protect and care for you and make you a source of pride for your peoples and homelands. I wish you a pleasant stay in your second home, the United Arab Emirates." 

The ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Noura Al Noman, Chairperson of the Executive Office of the wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi; Her Excellency Salha Ghabish, Cultural Advisor and Head of the Cultural Office at SCFA in Sharjah; Counselor Razzaq Khalif Mansour Al Saidi from the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in the United Arab Emirates; and a number of community members and sponsors. 

Honouring the winners

Her Excellency Noura Al Noman and Her Excellency Salha Ghabish presented the honorary shields to the winners: Dr. Sabah bint Abdul Karim Issawi from Saudi Arabia, winner of the award in the field of critical studies; Dr. Nadia Hanawi Saadoun from Iraq; and Sumaya Ali Raheef from Iraq, winner of the Jury Prize for her study. 

In the field of classical poetry, Dr. Dalal bint Bandar Al Maliki and Afaf bint Hussein Al Harbi from Saudi Arabia won. In the Children's Literature - Short Story category, Badriya bint Mohammed Al Badri from the Sultanate of Oman and Maryam Khalifa Al Shehhi from the United Arab Emirates won the Jury Prize, while Nada Ahmed Fardan from the Kingdom of Bahrain won the Jury Prize. Dr. Saida bint Khater Al Farsi from the Sultanate of Oman was also honoured for winning the Cultural Personality of the Year Award. 

The ceremony concluded with a symposium titled "Us and the Other: Cultural and Human Dimensions," presented by Dr. Saida bint Khater Al Fassi, Dr. Sabah bint Abdul Karim Issawi, and Dr. Nadia Saadoun. The discussion was moderated by writer Salha Obaid, and opinions and interventions varied.