Khalaf Al Habtoor Extends Generous Support of AED 1M to the Emirati Article Award

07 May 2025, Dubai, UAE

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Founding Chairman of the Al Habtoor Group, has announced a generous contribution of AED 1M to support the Emirati Article Award. The announcement was made during a signing ceremony held at the Al Habtoor Group head office, in the presence of the award’s founder Mr Abdul Ghaffar Hussain, Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Board Member Ms Meera Al Junaibi. Also in attendance were Ms Noura Badawi, Chief Communications Officer & Information Advisor to the Chairman, and Mr Abdulsalam Al Marzouqi, Executive Director of UAE Affairs & Community Relations at Al Habtoor Group.

This support reflects Khalaf Al Habtoor’s firm commitment to enriching the cultural and intellectual landscape of the UAE and empowering youth and creative talents. A five-year cooperation agreement was signed between the two parties to sustain and develop the award.

On this occasion, Mr Al Habtoor expressed his pride in supporting the Emirati Article Award, stating: “I am pleased to sign this agreement with Mr Abdul Ghaffar Hussain and Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdulla in support of a pioneering award that inspires youth to think critically and express themselves creatively. I believe in the power of words in shaping individuals and societies. Our support is an investment in promising minds that will shape the future of the UAE”.

He added: “Writing is a passion of mine. I’ve published many articles across various newspapers, and I fully understand the impact of words and the power of expression. My support for this award stems from a personal belief in the importance of encouraging everyone to participate, to create, and to foster a spirit of healthy cultural competition. Our youth are the leaders of tomorrow, and their words are our compass for progress”.

In turn, Mr Abdul Ghaffar Hussain extended his sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr Al Habtoor for his generous support, noting that this contribution marks a turning point in the journey of the award and significantly strengthens its presence and impact on the cultural scene.

Dr Abdulkhaleq Abdulla also praised the support, saying: “It is a true reflection of Mr Al Habtoor’s belief in the importance of culture and the written word, and their role in the advancement of society”.

The cultural and literary community looks forward with great optimism to the upcoming editions of the Emirati Article Award, now backed by this major support, which is expected to attract wider participation and showcase new creative voices among talented young writers.

The award recently announced the winners of its inaugural edition, which saw a notable dominance of female participants. The categories covered a range of topics, including social, literary, political, economic and intellectual fields. Writer Ali Obaid Al Hamli received the “Pioneer of Emirati Article 2025” award, while the youngest participants were also honoured in a gesture to encourage emerging talent.

This latest venture continues Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor’s extensive history of cultural contributions, highlighting his sustained commitment to bolstering the role of culture in the UAE. His initiatives include: The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Lifetime Achievement Award, in collaboration with the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature; The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Achievement Award, celebrating excellence across various fields; The Osha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi Award, honouring the pioneering Emirati poet; The “Open Talk” series, bringing together leading figures, academics, intellectuals and university students; Regular meetings with university delegations to exchange cultural perspectives; The printing of “The Concise Jurisprudence in Maliki Fiqh”, in support of Islamic heritage; The Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Award for the Quran and Sunnah; The publication of the “Mosques of the UAE” encyclopaedia, under the sponsorship of the Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor Foundation and The translation, printing, and release of the poetry of Osha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi in English, to share the richness of Emirati poetry with the world.