Doha, January 29 (QNA) - The Qatar Poetry Center, under the Ministry of Culture, concluded today the third edition of the "Poet of Al Wukair" competition, organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education. The closing ceremony and winners' awards were held at Al Wukair Model Boys School, marking the culmination of a culturally rich and educationally significant initiative.

The organizing committee honored the top three winners across the competition's three categories. In the Special Education Students category, first place and the banner award were secured by Tamim Misfer Ali Al Ahbabi from Abdullah bin Al Zubair School. Salem Jaber Al Marri from Al Wukair Model Boys School claimed second place, while third place went to Tamim Naji Al Saif from Al Wafaa Model School.

In the Classical Arabic Poetry category, first place and the banner award were awarded to Eid Al Sayed Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim from Al Khaleej Al Arabi Model School. Second place went to Jaber Rashid Al Marri from Al Wukair Model Boys School, while Nasr Al Din Fahd Al Ali Ahmed from Bilal bin Rabah Model School secured third place.

Meanwhile, in the Nabati Poetry category, Mohammed Salem Al Marri from Al Wukair Model Boys School claimed first place and the banner award. Nasser Hamad Al Hajri from Al Qadisiyah Model Boys School took second place, while Ali Rashid Mohammed Al Marri from Al Ikhlas Model Boys School finished third.

On the occasion, poet Shabib bin Arar Al Nuaimi, Director of the Qatar Poetry Center, praised the remarkable level of creativity displayed by participants, noting that this year's competition revealed exceptional talents and a high artistic standard among young poets. He expressed his pride in the achievements of the contestants and reaffirmed the Ministry of Culture's commitment to supporting emerging Qatari talents in collaboration with various state institutions.

Al Nuaimi highlighted that the continued success of the "Poet of Al Wukair" competition, now in its third consecutive year, reflects the strength of this partnership and its positive impact on nurturing a generation that appreciates the intrinsic value of the Arabic language and recognizes poetry as a powerful vehicle for cultural refinement and intellectual expression.

For her part, Sharifa Ali Al Nassf Al Buainain, Principal of Al Wukair Model Boys School, expressed her pleasure at hosting the third edition of the competition. She noted that the event provided a dynamic platform for students to showcase their talents in classical and Nabati poetry, in addition to the Special Education Students category, whose participants demonstrated a distinctive and inspiring presence.

Al Buainain pointed out that the competition witnessed a notable expansion in participation this year, attracting 22 schools and 45 talented students. She emphasized that this growing engagement underscores the competition's transformation into a prominent cultural event eagerly anticipated by the educational community on an annual basis.

She added that poetry serves as an effective educational tool for developing students' confidence, enhancing self-expression, and reinforcing authentic Qatari values that form a cornerstone of the national educational vision. She stressed that nurturing gifted students represents a meaningful investment in cultural identity and national heritage.

Meanwhile, poet Mohammed Ali Al Hunaiteem, a member of the competition's judging panel, described "Poet of Al Wukair" as a vital platform for preserving literary heritage. He noted that the initiative transcends the concept of a traditional competition, evolving into an engaging cultural project that highlights exceptional poetic abilities, strong memorization skills, and confident recitation among students.

The third edition of the competition was designed to achieve a comprehensive set of educational and literary objectives, with particular emphasis on supporting Special Education students, empowering emerging poets, strengthening their sense of belonging, refining recitation skills, and enhancing self-confidence before a live audience. (QNA)