Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, announced yesterday plans to establish the Okaz Cultural City in Taif.
He made this announcement while attending a press conference held by Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal to declare the winners of Souk Okaz prizes for 2012.
“We have already received a plot of land to build the cultural city. We’ll soon present project details to Prince Khaled for approval,” the SCTA chief told reporters.
Prince Khaled thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for his support to Souk Okaz project. He also thanked Binladin Group for bearing the cost of building Souk Okaz Tent, which will be opened this year.
The governor announced the Souk Okaz prizewinners in 12 categories. Rowdah Alhaj Othman of Sudan won the prize for the best poet of the year. She will receive a cash prize of SR 300,000 and an overcoat. About 35 poets from Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Sudan and Mauritania.
Other winners were: Hussam Al-Matar of Syria, Muhammad Al-Hawari of Egypt and Muhammad Al-Nouri of Iraq (Arab calligraphy), Shuaib Khattab of Iraq, Faisal Al-Shahri and Fahd Al-Aqeeli of Saudi Arabia (photography), Iyad Hekami of Saudi Arabia won the prize for the best youth poet and a cash prize of SR 100,000, and Dr. Ahmed Al-Qarni of King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals won the prize of scientific innovation. Al-Qarni will receive a cash prize of SR 100,000.
Abdu Areeshi of Saudi Arabia won the first prize for the best painting contest. Abdul Aziz Bubi Ashar of Somalia and Fahd Al-Ghamdi of Saudi Arabia were other winners. The prizes for the best handicraft and best folklore performance would be announced during the inauguration of Souk Okaz, the organizers said.
Muhammad Samman, spokesman of Souk Okaz, said the competition was restricted to the Arab world. He said the Okaz young poet is chosen from among Arab poets under the age of 30 who write poems in classic Arabic containing good ideas.
For the second consecutive year, the scientific creativity prize is given for creative research or for a patent of an invention serving humanity in the field of nanotechnology. The prize money for each is SR 100,000.
For the remaining three categories of photography, calligraphy and painting, the first prizewinners will get SR 50,000 while the second and third prizewinners will be given SR 30,000 and SR 20,000 respectively.
Prominent Arab intellectuals, poets, thinkers and artists will attend Souk Okaz, the prestigious event showcasing the culture and history of the Kingdom.
