Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, and Hashim Abdu Hashim, Editor-in-Chief of Okaz newspaper, with a book containing the winning entries of the Souq Okaz competition on Tuesday. — SG photo Abdul Rahman Ali Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region and the Chairman of the Supervisory Committee for Souq Okaz, announced the winners of the annual awards. The award of Okaz Poet went to Rawdat Al-Haj Othman, a Sudanese poetess. She will receive SR300,000 and will be given a chance to recite her poem at the opening ceremony of Souq Okaz festival on Sept. 11. Over 35 poets from eight Arab countries competed for the award. Prince Khaled announced that this year the Souq Okaz event will see for the first time a discussion session during which the Emir of Makkah Region; Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, Minister of Education; Prince Sultan Bin Salman, President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities; Khaled Al-Anqari, Minister of Higher Education; Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information and students from Saudi universities will engage in dialogue and exchange cultural and scientific ideas. The supervisory committee's members approved, during the committee's meeting Monday, the decision to give awards to 12 winners. Prince Faisal announced the winners of the award of Arabic calligraphy. They are Hussam Matar from Syria, Muhammad Al-Hawari from Egypt and Muhammad Al-Noori from Iraq. Prince Faisal also announced the winners of the photography award. They are Shuaib Khatab from Iraq, Faisal Al-Shehri from the Kingdom and Fahd Al-Aqili from the Kingdom. Prince Faisal said this year the number of contestants for both Arabic calligraphy and photography increase to 322. The winners will be invited to attend the opening ceremony of the Souq Okaz festival and participate in several exhibitions. Prince Sultan Bin Salman announced the winner of the Okaz Young Poet award, which went to Iyad Hakami from the Kingdom. Khalid Al-Anqari announced the winner of the scientific creativity award, which went to Prof. Ahmad Al-Qarni from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals. Abdul Aziz Khoja announced the winners of the Painting and Poem award, which went to Abdo Arishi from the Kingdom, Abdul Aziz Ashar from Somalia and Fahd Al-Ghamdi from the Kingdom. The winners of handicraft and folklore awards will be announced during the opening ceremony of the festival.
