KUWAIT CITY, 15 June 2022 – The Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain Cultural Foundation has announced the winners of the 18th session of the Abdulaziz Saud AlBabtain Prize for Poetic Creativity. Prizes totalling 135,000 USD have been awarded to seven poets and critics from seven countries.
The 18th session received 826 submissions between April and September 2021.
The Honorary Award, valued at 50,000 USD, was awarded to the Saudi poet Dr Abdulaziz Khoja in recognition of his poetic career.
The Poetry Criticism Prize, valued at 40,000 USD, was shared between Mustafa Rajwan of Morocco, for Poetics and Discourse Coherence, and Dr Ahmed Darwish of Egypt, for Reception of Poetry.
The Best Poetry Collection Prize, valued at 20,000 USD, was awarded to Rawda Al‑Hajj of Sudan for When the Rain of Speech Pours.
The Best Poem Prize, valued at 10,000 USD, was awarded to Abdullah Abu Shmais of Jordan for Rahel.
The Best Poetry Collection Prize for poets under 35, valued at 10,000 USD, was awarded to Alaa Al‑Qatrawi of Palestine for A Waterwheel Trying to Sing.
The Best Poem Prize for poets under 35, valued at 5,000 USD, was awarded to Zaher Habib of Yemen for A Handful of the Trace of Awe.