Articles of Association

of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation

and The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award

Decree No. (4) of 1994

Founding the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation

 

We, Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai,

Having reviewed the Founding Document of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, dated 9 March 1994, duly notarized by a Notary Public in Dubai on the same date, and signed by Mr. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, residing in Dubai, and attached hereto.

And upon the request submitted by Mr. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais to establish this Foundation and grant it legal personality by a decree issued by us.

We hereby decree as follows:

 

Article (1): Definitions

For the purposes of this Decree, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them:

• The Ruler: His Highness the Ruler of Dubai.
• The Founding Document: The Founding Document of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Foundation: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Economic Department: The Department of Economic Development in Dubai.

 

Article (2)

Pursuant to this Decree, and in accordance with the attached Founding Document, there shall be established a private foundation under the name “Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.”
The Foundation shall possess independent legal personality and shall enjoy full legal capacity to undertake actions and enter into obligations within the scope of its objectives and the provisions of this Decree.

Article (3)

The Foundation’s headquarters and principal place of business of the Foundation shall be located in the Emirate of Dubai.

Article (4)

The objectives of the Foundation shall be:
to periodically grant awards to Arab scholars, writers, and intellectuals through an award known as the “Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award,” and to support and encourage such other activities as may contribute to achieving this purpose.

Article (5)

The capital of the Foundation shall comprise ten thousand (10,000) shares of the National Bank of Dubai, eight thousand (8,000) shares of the Emirates Telecommunications Corporation within the United Arab Emirates, and one United States Government bond, in accordance with the details set out in the Founding Document.
The total value of these shares and the said bond, as of the date of issuance of this Decree and based on their prevailing market price, amounts to twenty-five million dirhams (AED 25,000,000).

Article (6)

The Foundation may accept donations, endowments, grants, gifts, and bequests.

Article (7)

The Foundation shall be organized and administered in accordance with the provisions of this Decree and those of the Founding Document.
Any amendments thereto shall be made in accordance with the principles prescribed in the said Document.

Article (8)

As of the date of issuance of this Decree, Mr. Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, or his heirs, shall have no right to revoke the establishment of the Foundation, cancel or amend its Founding Document, or interfere with the Foundation’s assets in any manner or for any reason whatsoever, and at any time.

 

Article (9)

(A) The Foundation shall be supervised by a Board of Trustees composed of no fewer than seven (7) and no more than fifteen (15) members of recognized competence and integrity, of whom not less than two-thirds shall be citizens of the United Arab Emirates.
The term of membership on the Board shall be unlimited.

(B) The first Board of Trustees, as set forth in the Founding Document, shall consist of the following members:

1. Omran Bin Salem Al Owais
2. Taryam Omran Taryam
3. Abdul Ghaffar Ghuloum Hussain
4. Mohammed Khalifa Bin Hazer
5. Khalifa Mohammed Bakhit
6. Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais
7. Anwar Mohammed Gargash
8. Mohammed Abdullah Al Mutawa
9. Sulaiman Musa Al Jassim
10. Abdul Hamid Ahmed Abdul Hamid
11. Nasser Hussain Al Aboudi

(C) In the event that it becomes impossible to constitute the Board at any time, or for any reason, in accordance with the provisions of the Founding Document, or if the number of members falls below seven (7), the Board shall be reconstituted or its membership completed by a Decree issued by the Ruler.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Article (10)

If the funds of the Foundation are utilized in a manner inconsistent with its purposes, or if the Founder intends to do so, or if serious irregularities are committed in the management of the Foundation contrary to the provisions of the Founding Document, the Ruler may dissolve the Board of Trustees and appoint a new Board by Decree.

 

Article (11)

The Board of Trustees may amend the provisions of the Founding Document, except those relating to the name, headquarters, objectives, or capital of the Foundation.
Such amendment shall be effected in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Founding Document and shall be filed with the Department of Economic Development.

 

Article (12)

The Foundation may not replace any of its movable or immovable assets, or any part thereof, unless such replacement is in the interest of the Foundation, and provided that the replacement is approved by a resolution of the Board of Trustees adopted by a three-quarters majority of its members.

 

Article (13)

The Foundation shall be exempt from all taxes, fees, and duties, whether governmental, municipal, customs, or otherwise.

 

Article (14)

The Foundation shall be registered with the Department of Economic Development, and shall commence its operations as of the date of such registration.

Article (15)

At the beginning of each fiscal year, the Foundation shall submit to the Department of Economic Development a list of the members of its Board of Trustees, together with a copy of its annual report and audited financial statements certified by a licensed auditor.

Article (16)

The Foundation shall be dissolved and liquidated only if it becomes impossible for it to operate due to insufficient or non-existent capital, thereby preventing the achievement of its objectives.
It may not be dissolved or liquidated for any other reason.

Article (17)

Subject to the provisions of the preceding Article, the Foundation shall not be dissolved or liquidated except by a Decree issued by the Ruler.

 

Article (18)

Subject to the provisions of Articles (16) and (17) above, in the event of the liquidation of the Foundation, the Government of Dubai shall determine the disposition of the remaining funds in a manner most consistent with the objectives for which the Foundation was originally established.

Article (19)

This Decree shall come into force on the date of its issuance and shall be published in the Official Gazette.

 

Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Ruler of Dubai

 

 

 

The Founding Document

 

 

 

 

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
(“Read in the Name of your Lord Who created; created man from a clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous—Who taught by the pen, taught man that which he knew not.”)
Verily, God Almighty has spoken the truth.

 

In the pursuit of charity and benevolence, seeking reward from Almighty God, and as a personal contribution to the service of Arab culture and thought, and in the desire to support literary and scientific life throughout the Arab world—being convinced that the advancement of culture and knowledge constitutes the primary foundation of Arab unity and human progress—
I, Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, out of pride in my nation and my Arab identity, and being desirous of dedicating part of my wealth to achieve and sustain this contribution, and in order to ensure that such dedication fulfills its intended purposes in the best possible manner, and to formalize it in a proper legal form,
hereby declare and stipulate as follows:

First:
I allocate and set aside the following of my assets:

Share Certificate Number	Number and Serial Numbers of Shares
2066	10,000 (Ten Thousand) Shares From Share No. 1469382   to Share No. 1479381

Shares in the National Bank of Dubai Limited, detailed as follows:

Shares in Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), detailed as follows:

Share Certificate Numbers		Number of Shares		Share Certificate Numbers		Number of Shares
38536		2363		34912		227
34913		227		34068		243
41031	238		34298		270
41051	164		41032		238
34290	310		34297		310
34299	310		41024		310
41025	310		41026		310
41027	310		41028		310
41029	310		41006		310
41007	310		41008		310
41009	310
Total	8,000 (Eight Thousand) Shares

Coupon Number	Maturity Date	Nominal Value
8.50	15/2/2020	USD 2,750,000 (United States Dollars Two Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand)

The United States Government Treasury Bond detailed below:

All such funds shall constitute the capital of a private foundation to be known as the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.

Second:
The capital of the Foundation shall be dedicated to achieving the following objectives:

(a) To grant awards to Arab scholars, writers, and intellectuals through an award called the “Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award,” which shall be granted periodically every two years.

(b) To support and encourage any other activities that contribute to achieving the purpose of the Foundation referred to in paragraph (a) above.

Third:
The headquarters and principal place of management of the Foundation shall be located in the City of Dubai.

Fourth:
The supreme authority of the Foundation and its overall supervision shall be vested in a Board of Trustees consisting of no fewer than seven (7) and no more than fifteen (15) members.

Fifth:
The Foundation shall be administered and its affairs and activities regulated in accordance with the following rules, which shall be referred to as the Articles of Association (the Constitution).

Articles of Association

Article (1)

In this Articles of Association, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them:

• The Ruler: His Highness, the Ruler of Dubai.
• The State: The United Arab Emirates.
• The Foundation: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Articles of Association: The Articles of Association of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Board: The Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Chairman: The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Secretary General: The Secretary General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Award: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.

 

 

 

 

 

Article (2)

The Board of Trustees

1. The Foundation shall be supervised by a body known as the Board of Trustees, which shall constitute the supreme authority of the Foundation.
2. The Board shall consist of not fewer than seven (7) and not more than fifteen (15) members of proven administrative and cultural competence, integrity, and trustworthiness, who shall be citizens of the United Arab Emirates.
   A number of Arab nationals of distinguished cultural or scientific reputation may also be included, provided that their number does not exceed one-third of the total membership of the Board.
3. A member shall lose his membership in the Board in the event of death, permanent disability, or conviction of a felony or a crime involving dishonor or breach of trust, or upon absence without valid excuse from four consecutive meetings, or upon submission of his resignation.
   The Board may also, when necessary and in the interest of the Foundation and proper conduct of its affairs, remove any of its members by a majority vote of the Board.
4. The Board shall appoint a suitable person to fill any vacant seat arising from loss of membership, provided that such person is nominated in writing by one-third of the members of the Board and that his appointment is approved by a majority of the members.
5. The Board shall elect from among its members, by secret ballot every four (4) years, a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman.
6. The Chairman shall preside over the meetings of the Board; in his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall act on his behalf; and in the absence of both, the eldest member present shall preside.
7. The Board shall meet, upon invitation of its Chairman or, in his absence, his Vice-Chairman, at least four (4) times each year to review the budget, final accounts, and to monitor the operations of the Foundation, oversee its activities, and consider the annual report submitted by the General Secretariat, taking such resolutions as it deems appropriate.
   The Board may also convene extraordinary meetings at the request of one-third of its members or upon a request by the Secretary General.
8. Meetings of the Board shall be valid if attended by a majority of its members.
   If the quorum is not met, the meeting shall be postponed to another date; if the quorum is again not achieved, the meeting shall be postponed once more, and the third meeting shall be deemed valid if attended by half of the members.
9. Resolutions of the Board shall be adopted by a majority of the members present.
   In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
10. The Board shall appoint, from among its members, a Secretary General of the Foundation for a renewable term of four (4) years.
    The Board may, if necessary, appoint a Secretary General from outside its membership for the same term.
11. The Board shall appoint, from among its members, a Financial Officer of the Foundation for a renewable term of four (4) years.
12. The Board shall establish the “General Secretariat” of the Foundation.
13. The Board shall adopt all appropriate resolutions to implement the objectives and policies of the Foundation and shall consider other recommendations and proposals submitted by the General Secretariat, deciding as it deems appropriate, provided that all such actions comply with the purposes of the Foundation and its fundamental principles.
14. The Board may issue the regulations necessary to organize the work of the Foundation and achieve its purposes, in particular:

• (a) Regulations governing the rules on which the Award is granted, the fields it covers, the conditions of nomination, its monetary value and other components, the approval procedures, the expenses required for that purpose, and the number of recipients.
• (b) Financial regulations governing revenues and their recording, expenditures and the modes of their approval, execution, and recording, as well as regulations related to the annual general budget and the final accounts, and other financial matters required by the Foundation’s operations.
• (c) The Board may form an Investment Committee to study the Foundation’s financial position, develop investment plans and recommendations, and submit them to the Board of Trustees.
• (d) The Investment Committee shall consist of three (3) to five (5) members possessing competence and experience in economic and investment fields, and the Chairman of the Committee must be a member of the Board of Trustees.
• (e) The Committee shall submit a quarterly report to the Board, including a summary of its work, activities, and recommendations.

 

 

 

Article (3)

The General Secretariat

1. The General Secretariat shall consist of the Secretary General, the Financial Officer, and a number of members whose number and term of service shall be determined according to the requirements of the Foundation’s work, provided that the number of members shall not be fewer than three (3) and not more than five (5).
2. The General Secretariat shall constitute the executive body of the Foundation and shall be responsible for the management of its daily operations in the cultural, administrative, and financial fields. Responsibilities shall be distributed among its members as required by the nature of the work.
3. The General Secretariat shall meet upon invitation by the Secretary General once every month, or whenever necessary.
   The meeting shall be valid if attended by the majority of its members.
   If the quorum is not met, the meeting shall be postponed for a period not exceeding one week.
   Should the quorum again not be achieved at the second meeting, the Secretary General shall refer the matter to the Board of Trustees, which shall take whatever decision it deems appropriate.
   The decisions of the General Secretariat shall be adopted by majority vote of its members.
   The Secretary General may refer any decision adopted by the General Secretariat to the Board of Trustees for review, approval, or cancellation prior to implementation.
4. The meetings of the General Secretariat shall be presided over by the Secretary General, and in his absence, a member delegated by him shall act as Chair.
5. The General Secretariat shall undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
   • (a) Propose programmes that would promote the development and advancement of the Foundation.
   • (b) Take appropriate administrative, cultural, technical, and financial decisions consistent with the Founding Document, internal regulations, and resolutions of the Board, provided that major decisions are included in the annual report of the General Secretariat.
   • (c) Authorize the expenditure of funds necessary for the operation of the Foundation within the approved annual budget, in accordance with the financial rules set forth in this Articles of Association or any financial regulations issued by the Board.
   • (d) Prepare the final accounts, the draft annual budget, and the administrative, financial, technical, and cultural reports, as well as other activity reports, and submit them to the Board for approval.
   • (e) Select the banks in which the Foundation’s funds shall be deposited.
   • (f) Appoint the employees and staff, determine their salaries, bonuses, and benefits, and terminate their services as required.
   • (g) Interpret the provisions of this Articles of Association until the next meeting of the Board of Trustees, which shall have the exclusive authority for final interpretation.
   • (h) Propose draft by-laws and internal regulations governing the Foundation’s operations and serving the achievement of its objectives.
6. The members of the General Secretariat shall receive salaries or monthly remunerations as determined by the Board, in consideration of their full-time or part-time service in managing the Foundation.
   The administrative and financial regulations issued by the Board shall govern remunerations, salaries, allowances, and bonuses.

Article (4)

The Secretary General

The Secretary General shall assume the following powers and responsibilities:

1. Issue invitations for meetings of the Board of Trustees and the General Secretariat.
2. Implement the resolutions adopted by the Board of Trustees.
3. Exercise full supervision over the General Secretariat and all departments of the Foundation, ensuring the proper conduct of work therein, and shall be accountable to the Board for all the activities, operations, and movable and immovable assets of the Foundation.
4. Represent the Foundation within and outside the State, before the courts, and before all official and non-official authorities, and shall act as the official spokesperson of the Foundation.
   The Secretary General may delegate any person he deems suitable to perform this function on his behalf.
5. Sign contracts and agreements entered into with the Foundation, after their approval by the General Secretariat.
6. Co-sign, together with the Financial Officer, all cheques, payment orders, and financial transfers related to the Foundation.
7. Receive all monies and funds due to the Foundation, jointly with the Financial Officer, and deposit them in the approved banks in the name of the Foundation within one week from the date of receipt.
8. Seek the assistance of the members of the General Secretariat, each according to his specialization, to assist in carrying out the assigned duties and responsibilities.
   The Secretary General may delegate or assign any of the members of the General Secretariat to perform some or all of his functions when necessary.
9. Safeguard the premises of the Foundation, including all assets, records, and archives, in particular ensuring the preservation of contracts, agreements, registers, and correspondence.

Article (5)

Financial Affairs of the Foundation

1. The funds of the Foundation shall consist of:
   • (a) The funds allocated by the Founder, Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, under the Founding Document, together with the revenues generated therefrom.
   • (b) Donations, whether in the form of endowments, grants, legacies, or gifts, that are accepted by the Board of Trustees.
2. No expenditure shall be made from the Foundation’s funds except for the purposes set forth in the Founding Document, and for the administration and operation of the Foundation.
3. The General Secretariat shall undertake the expenditure for the Foundation’s activities and administration in accordance with the annual budget approved by the Board.
   In the event of a delay in the approval of the budget, necessary monthly operational expenses shall be disbursed based on the most recently approved budget, until the new budget is approved.
4. The Secretary General and the Financial Officer shall jointly sign all vouchers, cheques, payment orders, and transfer instructions, within the limits of the annual budget ratified by the Board.
   No disbursement shall be deemed lawful unless signed by both.
5. The General Secretariat may place the Foundation’s revenues as deposits in the approved bank or in other banks, and may redeem such deposits by a reasoned resolution, for the purpose of increasing the Foundation’s income.
6. The accounts of the Foundation and the control of its funds, revenues, and expenditures shall be audited and supervised by an Audit Office approved by the Board of Trustees, which shall also determine its remuneration.
7. The fiscal year of the Foundation shall commence on the first day of January and end on the thirty-first day of December of the same year, except for the first fiscal year, which shall commence on the date of issuance of the Ruler’s Decree establishing the Foundation and shall end on 31 December 1995.

Article (6)

The Board of Trustees may, from time to time, amend this Articles of Association, provided that such amendment does not conflict with any of the provisions of the Founding Document.

Article (7)

The Board of Trustees shall be prohibited from borrowing from others or lending to others from the funds of the Foundation.

Article (8)

The Board of Trustees shall have no authority to dissolve the Foundation or to suspend its activities, whether partially or permanently.

Article (9)

As of the date of notarization of this Founding Document, neither I nor my heirs shall, under any circumstances or for any reason and at any time, have the right to cancel or amend this document, withdraw from the establishment of the Foundation, or interfere with the funds allocated and dedicated thereto.

Article (10)

The Foundation shall commence its operations upon the issuance of a Decree by His Highness the Ruler of Dubai establishing it, and shall comply with the provisions thereof.

In order to confer official status upon this Founding Document, I hereby request the Notary Public in Dubai to notarize it in due form.

Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais

 

[1]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award

Chapter One

Titles and Definitions

In this Regulation, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them:

• The Ruler: His Highness, the Ruler of Dubai.
• The State: The United Arab Emirates.
• The Foundation: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Articles of Association: The Articles of Association of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The State: The United Arab Emirates.
• The Foundation: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Articles of Association: The Articles of Association of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Board: The Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.

• The General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Regulation: The Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.
• The Secretary General: The Secretary General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

Name of the Award

The Award shall be known as the “Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.”

 

Chapter Three

Objectives of the Award

The Award aims to encourage and honor Arab writers, authors, intellectuals, and scholars, in recognition of their role in promoting intellectual and scientific advancement in the fields of culture, literature, and science across the Arab world.

 

Chapter Four

Definition of the Award

1. The Award shall be granted once every two years to a number of Arab writers and intellectuals for their contributions in the fields of fiction, drama, poetry, literary and critical studies, human and future studies, and translation, provided that their works occupy a distinguished position in the realm of cultural and creative production in thought and literature.
   Such works must reflect the authenticity of Arab thought, embody the aspirations of the Arab nation, and have a clear and positive impact on cultural, literary, and scientific life.
2. The criteria for granting the Award shall be based solely on creative merit, without regard to the political affiliations or intellectual beliefs of the nominees, and without discrimination based on color, gender, or religion.
3. The Award shall remain independent and impartial, and the process of granting it shall be free from any influence or pressure of any kind.

 

 

Chapter Five

Fields of the Award

The Award shall be divided into five categories, as follows:

1. First Category – Poetry
   The Award shall be granted to one poet and may be shared jointly between two recipients.
2. Second Category – Story, Novel, or Drama
   The Award shall be granted to one winner from among these three literary genres, and may be shared jointly between two winners, whether from the same genre or two different genres.
3. Third Category – Literary and Critical Studies
   The Award shall be granted to one winner in the field of literary or critical studies, and may be shared jointly between two winners, whether of the same gender or different genders.
4. Fourth Category – Human and Future Studies
   The Award shall be granted to one winner in the field of human or future studies, and may be shared jointly between two winners, whether of the same gender or different genders.
5. Fifth Category – Translation
   The Award shall be granted for distinguished works and outstanding contributions in the field of translation into Arabic, provided that the translation is characterized by accuracy, Textual integrity, and artistic quality, and that it effectively contributes to enriching Arab knowledge and culture.
   The Award in this category may also be shared jointly.

 

Chapter Six

Administration of the Award

1. The Board of Trustees shall exercise overall supervision over the Award.
2. The General Secretariat shall be responsible for the organization and administration of the Award in accordance with its assigned functions and powers.

 

 

Chapter Seven

Article (1)

Nomination for the Award

1. Nomination for the Award shall be made through literary unions, associations, clubs, cultural bodies and institutions, universities, and institutes.
2. Any Arab writer or author who meets the nomination criteria may nominate himself directly for the Award.
3. The General Secretariat may accept the nomination of a candidate proposed by a number of Arab writers, authors, and intellectuals of recognized literary and intellectual standing, provided that the number of endorsers shall not be fewer than five (5).
4. In each edition, the General Secretariat shall announce the opening and closing dates for nominations, and shall specify the meeting schedules of the Advisory Committees, Jury Committees, and other technical committees.

 

Article (2)

Eligibility Requirements for Candidates

1. The candidate’s creative works must be written in Classical Arabic, and works written in colloquial dialects or in languages other than Arabic shall not be accepted.
2. The candidate must specify the literary genre for which he wishes to be nominated, and may not be nominated in more than one category, in accordance with the fields set forth in Chapter Five of this Regulation.
3. All works submitted for the Award must be published in book form; typed manuscripts or handwritten works shall not be accepted.
4. The nomination must be accompanied by the following:
   • (a) A copy of the candidate’s passport or any official identity document;
   • (b) The candidate’s curriculum vitae;
   • (c) A written consent from the candidate approving his nomination;
   • (d) A recent personal photograph; and
   • (e) Five complete copies of each of the candidate’s published works.
   • (f) The books and documents submitted shall not be returned to the applicants, whether the candidate wins or does not win, and no claims for the return of submitted materials shall be accepted.

 

Article (3)

Value and Components of the Award

Each winner of the Award shall receive the following:

1. A monetary amount determined from the total value of the Award, which amounts to USD 750,000 (Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) — allocated as USD 150,000 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) for each of the five fields listed in Chapter Five.
   The Board of Trustees may, at its discretion, increase the value of the Award as it deems appropriate, in line with future developments and changes.
2. A Certificate of Appreciation.
3. The Foundation’s Shield.
4. The Foundation’s Medal.

 

Chapter Eight

Judging of the Award

1. For each Award edition, the General Secretariat shall form a Jury Committee for the granting of the Award, composed of writers, authors, university professors, and cultural figures of recognized expertise, competence, and integrity.
2. The meetings of the Judging Committee shall be chaired by the Secretary General; in his absence, he may delegate a member of the General Secretariat to chair the meetings on his behalf.
3. The Committee’s decisions shall be adopted by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the vote of the Secretary General, or of his delegate, shall prevail.
4. The names of the Committee members and details of its meetings shall remain confidential throughout the Award edition.
   The General Secretariat may, however, announce the names of the Committee members during the closing ceremony.
5. A separate judging by-law shall be issued to define the functions, duties, and meeting procedures of the Committee.
6. The General Secretariat may form an Advisory Committee composed of experts and specialists representing the fields of the Award, to assist in the screening process.
   The General Secretariat shall have the right to endorse or adopt the recommendations of the Advisory Committee as it deems appropriate.

 

 

 

Chapter Nine

Announcement of the Award

1. The General Secretariat shall announce the results of the Award’s judging at the conclusion of each edition, within three (3) months from its end, after obtaining the approval of the Board of Trustees.
   If circumstances prevent such announcement within the stated period, the General Secretariat shall have the right to set another date for announcing the results.
2. The General Secretariat shall organize a public ceremony to present the Awards to the winners, and shall determine the date and venue of the ceremony, provided that it shall not exceed three (3) months from the date of the announcement of results.

 

Chapter Ten

General Provisions

1. The Award shall not be granted to any winner more than once.
2. The Award shall not be granted to a person who has received another Arab or international Award of a similar nature, unless two (2) Award editions have passed since receiving such Award.
3. Nominations shall not be accepted from any former member of the Jury Committees until two (2) Award cycles have elapsed since the end of his term of service on the Committee.
4. The Award ceremony may be held in any city within the United Arab Emirates, and may also be held in any Arab or foreign city.
5. The Board of Trustees shall have the right to add new cultural fields to the main categories of the Award.
6. The Awards may be granted alternately, in order to enhance the prominence and continuity of the Award on an annual basis.

1. Any provision of this Regulation that conflicts with the provisions of the Articles of Association shall be deemed null and void, and the Board of Trustees shall have the right to amend this Regulation as it deems appropriate.[2]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Achievement Award

Article (1)

In this Regulation, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them:

• The Board: The Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Regulation: The Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Achievement Award.
• The Award: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Achievement Award.

 

Article (2)

The Achievement Award shall be granted once every two years in recognition of individual achievements, and may also be granted to institutions, as follows:

1. Writers, intellectuals, authors, artists, and Arab scholars who have served Arab culture and sciences in the fields of literature, criticism, thought, philosophy, and the humanities in general, as well as in economic, political, applied, and pure sciences, medicine, pharmacy, and the arts in all their forms, including music, visual arts, Drama, and performance, in addition to translators, orientalists, and international writers who have contributed to the promotion of Arab culture and humanitarian
   Their work must constitute outstanding achievements that have contributed to the development or establishment of one or more of these fields and have had a notable impact on contemporary Arab life.
2. Arab cultural and scientific institutions, such as universities, institutes, colleges, research centres, and similar entities that have provided distinguished service to the Arab world, contributing to the advancement of sciences, literature, and the arts.

 

Article (3)

1. The value of the Award shall be USD 150,000 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand United States Dollars).[3]
2. Any recipient of this Award shall not be eligible to participate in any of the other categories of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award, and the Achievement Award shall not be granted to the same recipient more than once.
3. The Board of Trustees may, at its discretion, select more than one winner in a single Award cycle, provided that each winner shall receive the full monetary value of the Award.

 

Article (4)

1. Nominations for the Award shall be accepted from cultural and scientific institutions. The Board of Trustees may also nominate any person it deems appropriate to receive the Award in each cycle.
2. To be eligible for consideration, the candidate’s curriculum vitae must include a detailed description of his or her achievements, such as books, research papers, certificates, inventions, patents, artistic works, or any other evidence demonstrating scientific or cultural accomplishments.
   In all cases, the written consent of the candidate shall be a prerequisite for acceptance of the nomination.
3. The General Secretariat shall have the right to request samples or documentation of such achievements, whether publications, artistic works, inventions, or any other relevant materials.

 

Article (5)

The General Secretariat shall announce the opening and closing dates for nominations for the Award in all fields mentioned in Article (2) of this Regulation.

 

Article (6)

The Advisory Committee

The General Secretariat shall establish an Advisory Committee at the beginning of each Award edition, composed of individuals of competence, expertise, and integrity.
The General Secretariat shall organize the meetings of the Committee and shall submit its recommendations to the Board of Trustees.

 

Article (7)

Duties of the Advisory Committee

The Advisory Committee shall review all nominees for the Achievement Award and shall submit a report to the Board of Trustees containing a shortlist of not fewer than five (5) and not more than ten (10) candidates.
The Board of Trustees shall have the right to select one of the shortlisted candidates, or to choose another candidate outside the list prepared by the Committee.

Article (8)

Operating Procedures of the Advisory Committee

1. The Advisory Committee shall commence its work two (2) months after the closing date of nominations for each Award edition.
2. Each member of the Advisory Committee shall receive a financial remuneration as determined by the General Secretariat.
3. Members of the Advisory Committee may not nominate themselves for the Award.
   In the event that a member wishes to be nominated for the Award, he must resign from the Committee, and his nomination shall only be accepted after two (2) Award cycles have elapsed.
4. No person shall serve as a member of the Advisory Committee if he is a first- or second-degree relative of any nominee for the Award.
5. If a member of the Advisory Committee dies before completing his work, no remuneration shall be paid to him.
   The General Secretariat shall promptly appoint a replacement.
   However, if the member dies after submitting his report, the remuneration shall be granted to him.

Article (9)

1. The General Secretariat shall receive the nomination applications and submit them to the Advisory Committee for review and preparation of the shortlist to be presented to the Board of Trustees.
2. The Board of Trustees, in a special meeting, shall select the winner of the Award from among the most prominent nominees within three (3) months of the conclusion of the Advisory Committee’s work.
   The General Secretariat shall then announce the winner and the rationale for the selection.
3. The Board of Trustees shall decide the winner by consensus; in the event of disagreement, the candidate receiving the majority of votes shall be declared the winner.

Any provision of this Regulation that conflicts with the provisions of the Articles of Association shall be deemed null and void.[4]

 

 

 

 

 

Regulation on Judging

of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award

Article (1)

In this Regulation, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to each of them:

• The State: The United Arab Emirates.
• The Foundation: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Board: The Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Chairman: The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Award: The Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.
• The General Secretariat: The General Secretariat of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Award Regulation: The Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.
• The Secretary General: The Secretary General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
• The Regulation: The Regulation on judging of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.
• The judging Committee: The judging Committee of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award.

 

Article (2)

1. Upon the approval of the Board of Trustees, the General Secretariat shall establish a Judging Committee composed of members of recognized competence, expertise, and integrity, representing the fields of the Award, namely: Poetry, Story, Novel, and Drama, Literary and Critical Studies, Human and Future Studies, and Translation.
2. The members of the Judging Committee shall be selected in accordance with the standards of integrity, competence, and experience, while ensuring diversity of literary and intellectual perspectives among the members, so as to guarantee objectivity and impartiality in the judging process.
3. The Secretary General shall serve as the Chairman of the Judging Committee by virtue of his position.

 

Article (3)

1. The Judging Committee shall commence its work after the closing of nominations in each Award edition, provided that this period shall not exceed three (3) months.
2. The nominations and submitted works shall be forwarded to the Judging Committees as promptly as possible, according to their respective fields of specialization. The deadlines for submitting reports shall be determined, after which the Judging Committee shall be invited to convene.
   The General Secretariat shall determine the time and venue of the meeting.

 

Article (4)

Each member of the Judging Committee shall receive a financial remuneration at the end of each Award edition.

 

Article (5)

If any member of the Judging Committee becomes unable to perform his duties for any reason, the General Secretariat shall nominate another member to assume his responsibilities. The previous member shall not be entitled to remuneration for the work not completed.

 

Article (6)

If a member of the Judging Committee is unable to attend the final meetings, the Committee shall review the report submitted by him, and the decisions of the Committee shall be final and binding. The absent member shall have no right to object to the decisions after their announcement.

 

 

 

 

Article (7)

The Secretary General shall organize the meetings of the Judging Committee, ensure the proper conditions for their success, maintain the confidentiality of its decisions, and organize and preserve all documents related to such meetings.

 

Article (8)

1. The Judging Committee shall remain confidential to ensure the neutrality and integrity of the Award.
   The General Secretariat may, however, announce the names of the Committee members during the closing ceremony.
2. The General Secretariat alone shall have the authority to announce the judging results, the names of the judges, and the final report.
   No member of the Judging Committee shall have the right to disclose his membership or announce the judging results independently.

Article (9)

1. Members of the Judging Committee shall not be eligible to nominate themselves for the Award. Should any member wish to be nominated for the Award, he must submit his resignation from the Committee, and his nomination shall not be accepted until two (2) subsequent Award cycles have passed.
2. No person shall serve as a member of the Judging Committee if he is a first- or second-degree relative of any nominee for the Award.
   In the event that a relationship is discovered between a winner and a member of the Judging Committee, the winner’s result shall be annulled, and the Foundation reserves its legal right to take appropriate action against the judge involved.

 

Article (10)

If a member of the Judging Committee dies before completing his duties, no remuneration shall be paid to him, and the General Secretariat shall immediately appoint a replacement.
However, if the member dies after submitting his report, the remuneration shall be paid to him.

 

 

 

Article (11)

Any provision of this Regulation that conflicts with the provisions of the Articles of Association shall be deemed null and void. The Board of Trustees shall have the right to amend this Regulation as it deems appropriate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Table of Contents

• Decree No. (4) of 1994 Establishing the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation
• The Founding Document
• The Articles of Association
• Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award
• Regulation of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Achievement Award
• Regulation on Judging of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award

 

[1] Pursuant to Article (6) of the Articles of Association, which authorizes the Board of Trustees to amend the Articles of Association from time to time, provided that such amendment does not conflict with the provisions of the Founding Document;

And in view of the Foundation’s keenness to keep pace with administrative, legal, and regulatory developments, and in line with its ongoing efforts to enhance the interests of the Foundation and ensure the sustainability of its operations in accordance with its future vision and mission;

The Board, in its meeting held on 5 May 2025, approved the amendments to the Articles of Association and the organizational by-laws, in a manner consistent with the requirements of the current stage, contributing to improved institutional performance and enhanced flexibility to adapt to continuous changes in the work environment.

 

[2] The Board of Trustees approved the amendment of the Articles of Association on 5 May 2025.

[3] The value of the Award was amended to USD 120,000 (One Hundred Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) during the ninth edition (2004–2005) by a resolution of the Board of Trustees adopted at its meeting held on 23 October 2005.
Subsequently, the value of the Award was increased to USD 150,000 (One Hundred Fifty Thousand United States Dollars) by a resolution of the Board adopted at its meeting held on 14 November 2024, during the nineteenth edition (2024–2025).

[4] The Board of Trustees approved the amendment of the Achievement Award Regulation at its meeting held on 5 May 2025.