emirates7 - Under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Board of Trustees, the Award’s General Secretariat announced the opening of candidature for the "Date Palm International Photography" competition in its 13th session, 2022.

Professional photographers, and photography lovers from all over the world are invited to participate in this international competition, which is held in appreciation of the date palm tree and to enhance the role of photographers in enriching its memory, as well as reviving its environmental heritage.

The Award’s General Secretariat also announced opening candidature for the "Date Palm International Poetry" competition in its 6th session, 2022, where poets from all Arab countries are invited to participate in this international competition.

The competition is accepting Arabic poetry in both dialects (Nabati and El Fasih), to direct the public's awareness on the importance of the date palm tree in terms of heritage, agriculture, food and economy.

In a press statement, Dr. Abdelouahhab Zaid, Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation Secretary-General, underscored the great success achieved in the past sessions, reflected in the significant increase in the number of participants from around the world and the quality of the participations received.

"The two competitions come under the directives of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, Chairman of the Award’s Board of Trustees, aiming to help strengthen the human relationship with the date palm tree, where this reflects his unlimited support for the blessed tree by employing the art of photography, and Arabic poetry to develop public awareness of the importance of the date palm tree, and creating a space for the exchange of cultures from across the world," Dr. Zaid said.

He went on to say that the "Date Palm International Photography" competition consists of two categories, mainly the Date Palm and Date Palm Handicrafts categories, while the "Date Palm International Poetry" competition comprises "El Fasih" poetry and "Nabati" poetry.

The first-place winner in each category receives an amount of AED15,000; the runner-up receives AED10,000; the Third place winner receives an amount of AED5,000; in addition to an appreciation certificate and a trophy, he added.

Moreover, an international committee of experts in photography and poetry will evaluate received participations, where the deadline for receiving photos and poems is 31st December, 2022. The winners of the competitions will be announced in February, 2023.