Nabati Poetry

Nabati poetry is a popular literary art rooted in the Arabian Peninsula, reflecting the language of everyday life and addressing all groups, with a central role in shaping literary and sung culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states. [1]

Its transmission rests on narration by hearing, a feature that makes it an extension of Arabic poetry in its earlier stages. [2]

Narration by hearing preserves the texts of Nabati poetry, which pass orally from one generation to the next without a written intermediary. [2]

This method also allows the reality of Nabati poetry to be projected onto earlier ages, since the art is an extension of Arabic poetry in its reliance on transmission by hearing. [2]

The Council of Ministers named the year 2023 the “Year of Arabic Poetry”, an official move to support Arabic literature and strengthen its standing. [7]

From 1 to 31 May 2023, applications for the “Arabic Poetry Research Grant” were open to researchers and to those interested in its various fields. [8] On 7 February 2023, the Arabic Poetry Academy in Makkah launched the second Yamamah Poetry Caravan, with the support of the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission at the Ministry of Culture, and with the participation of a number of poets from Riyadh. [9]

The Ministry of Culture launched the “Nabati Poetry Festival” in its first edition in the Qassim region on 27 December 2023 (14 Jumada al-Akhirah 1445 AH), as part of the initiatives of the Year of Arabic Poetry 2023, bringing together a group of Nabati poets and emerging talents from across the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states. [3][4]

The festival comprised events, activities and poetry evenings in a winter atmosphere that reflects the customs of Saudi society in that season, with more than 20 poets representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Gulf states taking part. [5] It also included the poetry of dialogue, the “Al-Qaltah” art, an ancient heritage bound to the Arabian Peninsula. [6]

The King Abdulaziz Award for Folk Literature is presented within the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival and has three categories: Al-Shilat, Al-Nazm and Al-Muhawarah; registration is open to all poets who are citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states. [10][11]

The award opened participation to women in the Al-Nazm category, while a poet's entry is confined to a single category, and it is the largest award in folk literature across the Arab world. [12][13] Its final rounds are held at the conference centre theatre of Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh. [13]

The King Fahd Cultural Center held the “Nabati Poetry Nights” on 28 and 29 March 2017, with seminars, lectures and poetry evenings. [14]

The “Loyalty Seminar” honoured late figures of Nabati poetry: Ahmed Al-Nasser Al-Shaye, Rashid Al-Zalami, Saad bin Jidlan and Mosaed Al-Rashidi. [15]

On 16 October 2025 (24 Rabi' al-Akhir 1447 AH), the Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission organised an open virtual meeting titled “Nabati Poetry”, hosting a group of poets, researchers and specialists to discuss the reality of Nabati poetry in the Kingdom and the support it receives. [16]

Q: What is Nabati poetry? A: A popular literary art rooted in the Arabian Peninsula that reflects the language of everyday life and addresses all groups, with a central role in shaping Saudi and Gulf literary and sung culture. [1]

Q: How is Nabati poetry transmitted? A: By narration by hearing, as an extension of Arabic poetry in its reliance on transmission by hearing. [2]

Q: What dialogue event did the Nabati Poetry Festival include? A: The poetry of dialogue, the “Al-Qaltah” art, an ancient heritage bound to the Arabian Peninsula. [6]

Q: What are the categories of the King Abdulaziz Award for Folk Literature? A: Al-Shilat, Al-Nazm and Al-Muhawarah. [10]

Q: Who may register for the King Abdulaziz Award for Folk Literature? A: Poets who are citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council states, with women's participation available in the Al-Nazm category. [11][12]