Emirates Airline has announced its support for the centenary of the late Emirati poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais (1925–2025). As part of these celebrations, an international Symposium titled “Sultan Al Owais… A Journey of Poetry… A Journey of Giving” will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, on 11–12 September at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

H.E. Abdul Hamid Ahmad, Secretary-General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, expressed his gratitude to Emirates Airline for this generous initiative, which he described as part of the airline’s contribution to cultural endeavours and to strengthening the UAE’s presence on the international stage.

He stressed that the centenary of Sultan Al Owais is a major cultural event for the UAE, drawing wide interest both locally and internationally. “The Al Owais Cultural Foundation will spare no effort in ensuring the success of this celebration through fruitful partnerships with national institutions that enhance the value of cultural work and strengthen its presence in society,” he affirmed.

The symposium will bring together a constellation of leading cultural figures and intellectuals from the UAE and across the Arab world, alongside a distinguished group of scholars. Poets who have won the prestigious Al Owais Cultural Award will also take part, while parallel activities are being prepared in collaboration with UNESCO.

UNESCO has designated 2025 as the year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sultan Al Owais. The centenary celebrations began on 23 January with a grand musical event in Dubai, “Melody in Dubai”, led by maestro Mohammed Al Qahoom. Throughout the year, the programme includes art exhibitions, documentary screenings, the issuance of commemorative stamps and coins by the Central Bank, as well as the publication of books and poetry collections, and the organisation of intellectual seminars and dialogue sessions.