The Centennial of Poet Salim Bin Ali Al Owais

United Arab Emirates15 December 1987Draft

Cultural circles in UAE celebrate this year the centennial of the birth of Poet Salim Bin Ali AI Owais, who was born in 1887. UAE Union of Writers called early this year for the formation of a national committee to celebrate the occasion by holding a number of cultural activities. The national committee includes beside the Writers Union, the Cultural Department of Sharjah, UAE University of AI-Ain and the Society for the Rebirth of Cultural Heritage of Dubai. Poet AI Owais who was born in the town of Hira, Sharjah Emirate in 1307 (H) -1887 A.D. -is considered as one of the leading poets of UAE in both classical and colloquial Arabic. Despite hard pressing economical and social conditions as well as cultural insolation dominated over the area, the Poet achieved self-education and overcome isolation expressing the aspirations of his nation and society in lively original poems. A complete collection of his poems were lately published in a book with the title "NIDDA ALKALEEJ" which does not include most of his colloquial poems.