If you are a visual artist working in the UAE, the GCC, or the wider Arab world, the Kanz Al Jeel Award is one of those opportunities that can genuinely move your career forward. It is backed by major cultural institutions, comes with significant prize money, and is celebrated in Al Ain as part of a high profile cultural week.

Below is a clear, artist focused guide to what the award is, how the Arts category works, and how to prepare a submission that actually stands a chance.

What is the Kanz Al Jeel Award?

Kanz Al Jeel is an award launched by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) to honour creative works connected to Nabati poetry, folklore studies, and related research. 
The award draws inspiration from the poetry legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and aims to spark new creative outputs that connect heritage with contemporary expression.

Prize money: The total prize pool is AED 1.5 million. Each category winner receives AED 200,000, while the Creative Personality category is AED 500,000.

Why this award matters for artists

For visual artists, Kanz Al Jeel is not just a poetry award. The Arts category explicitly supports works that use visual tools to interpret and embody Nabati poetry and Sheikh Zayed’s poetry, including Arabic calligraphy and other art forms.

Just as important, the award is publicly celebrated in Al Ain, giving it cultural weight beyond a standard “online submission competition.” In the fourth edition, winners were honoured at Qasr Al Muwaiji in Al Ain, aligned with the opening of the Al Ain Book Festival.

Award categories (quick overview)

You can submit to one category per cycle.

The six categories are:

• Poetry Matching

• Poetic Publications

• Studies and Research

• Translation

• Arts

• Creative Personality

The Arts category: what the jury is looking for

The official description is clear: the Arts category celebrates artworks that visually interpret Sheikh Zayed’s poetry and Nabati poetry. This can include Arabic calligraphy, plastic art, short films, or singing.

Important: each edition can define a specific art field

The submission rules note that individuals and institutions can apply to the Arts category according to the art field approved for each edition.

Example (fourth cycle 2025): calligraphy plus painting based on a specific poem

For the fourth cycle (2025), the Arts category required an integrated artwork that merges Arabic calligraphy (including the poem text) with drawing and painting, using the approved Sheikh Zayed poem for that cycle.

Key requirements in that cycle included:

• Only one work per applicant, per cycle

• The work must not be nominated for another award in the same year

• The work must not have previously won a major Arabic or international award

• Specific canvas sizes were required (cycle specific)

• The organisers may publish submitted works and may use longlist or shortlist works in events and exhibitions

• Previous winners can apply again only after five years

• Decisions are final and cannot be appealed

Step by step: how to apply (artist checklist)

1) Pick the right category (and commit)

You can submit in one category per award cycle, so choose the category that fits your strongest, most coherent body of work.

2) Read the cycle specific Arts rules carefully

The Arts category can be broad, but the cycle rules can be very specific (poem, format, dimensions, documentation).

3) Prepare your documents

For the Arts category, the required documents listed for participation include:

• CV

• Copy of a valid passport

• Personal photo

• Photo of the artwork

• Plus: sending the original artwork to the award headquarters address (see below)

4) Photograph your work professionally

Even if the original is shipped, the first impression is your digital image. Use neutral lighting, straight angles, detail shots, and include a scale reference in your documentation set (not inside the artwork photo).

5) Submit online and ship the original work

For the Arts category, the official instructions require sending the original artwork to the award headquarters in Abu Dhabi. 
Also note the general submission rules state that the award retains the artwork and does not refund nominees. 
This is a big strategic decision for artists, so plan accordingly.

Official address (as listed): Department of Culture & Tourism – Arabic Language Centre, PO Box 7050, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Inquiries and contact (as listed): phone, WhatsApp, email, and working hours are provided on the Arts category page.

Deadlines and timing: what to know

Deadlines can change each cycle, so always verify on the official platform.

For the fourth edition, the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre announced that nominations were accepted until 31 May 2025. 
After the fourth edition ceremony, the organisers also announced that nominations for the fifth edition would open.

How to make your submission stronger (curatorial advice)

Here is what typically improves results in heritage connected awards like this:

• One clear visual language. Do not submit something experimental if your strength is craft and coherence.

• Treat the poem as structure, not decoration. If calligraphy is required, make sure the text is integrated into composition, rhythm, and meaning.

• Show authenticity and innovation together. The general eligibility criteria mention originality and innovation as core expectations.

• Write a short, specific concept statement (even if not explicitly required): what is your visual approach, what is your link to the poem, and what is your technique.

Common mistakes artists make

• Missing the cycle requirements (wrong poem, wrong size, wrong format).

• Submitting a work that has already won major prizes, or is submitted elsewhere in the same year.

• Underestimating documentation quality (weak images, no detail shots, messy background).

• Not planning for the fact that the artwork is retained by the award administration.

Why Al Ain is part of the story

Kanz Al Jeel has become visibly tied to Al Ain’s cultural calendar. In the fourth edition, winners were honoured at Qasr Al Muwaiji in Al Ain, marking the opening of the Al Ain Book Festival. 
For artists, that matters because it signals institutional relevance, public visibility, and long term cultural positioning.

Work with The Art Fair Guy

If you want to submit to Kanz Al Jeel (Arts category or otherwise), I can help you:

• Decide whether this award fits your current career strategy

• Shape one coherent submission narrative (concept, visuals, positioning)

• Review your documentation package (images, CV, concept text)

• Create a practical shipping and timeline plan so nothing goes wrong

Important note on integrity: I can help you strengthen your submission, but I cannot guarantee selection, winning, or any outcome. Award decisions are made independently by the organisers and juries, and consulting has no influence on results.

If you want support, contact me via office@theartfairguy.com

FAQ: Kanz Al Jeel Art Award (Al Ain) – for Artists

What is the Kanz Al Jeel Award?
Kanz Al Jeel is an award launched by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) to honour creative works connected to Nabati poetry, folklore studies, and related research. It includes an Arts category that can be relevant for visual artists.

Is the Kanz Al Jeel Award relevant for visual artists?
Yes. The Arts category celebrates artworks that visually interpret Sheikh Zayed’s poetry and Nabati poetry. Depending on the edition, this can include Arabic calligraphy, plastic arts, short films, or singing.

What are the main award categories?
The award includes six categories: Poetry Matching, Poetic Publications, Studies and Research, Translation, Arts, and Creative Personality.

Can I submit to more than one category?
No. Applicants can submit only one work in one category per award cycle.

Do the Arts category rules change each year?
Yes. Each edition can define a specific focus and requirements for the Arts category (for example a specific poem, medium, canvas size, or documentation format). Always read the current cycle rules before producing the final work.

Do I need to send the original artwork for the Arts category?
In the Arts category guidelines, the award requires sending the original artwork to the award headquarters in Abu Dhabi (in addition to submitting the required digital information).

Will I get my artwork back after submission?
According to the general rules, the award retains submitted artworks and does not refund nominees. Treat this as an important practical and financial consideration before you apply.

What documents are typically required for the Arts category?
The Arts category guidelines list: a CV, a copy of a valid passport, a personal photo, and a photo of the artwork. The organisers can also request additional information depending on the cycle.

Are there restrictions if the artwork has already won another prize?
Yes. Works must not be nominated for another award in the same year, and must not have previously won a major Arabic or international award.

Can previous winners apply again?
Yes, but typically only after a waiting period. In the listed rules, previous winners may apply again after five years.

Where is the Kanz Al Jeel Award ceremony held in Al Ain?
In a recent edition, the winners were honoured at Qasr Al Muwaiji in Al Ain, aligned with the opening of the Al Ain Book Festival.

What is the prize money?
The total prize pool is AED 1.5 million. Each category winner receives AED 200,000, while the Creative Personality category is AED 500,000.

How can The Art Fair Guy help with this application?
I can help you evaluate fit, select the strongest direction for the Arts category, refine your concept and visuals, and prepare a clean submission package. Please note: I cannot guarantee selection or winning.

Pictures copyright by Elnaz Rajabian