2 Writers Win Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies

A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
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2 Writers Win Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies

A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
A general view of the skyline as seen from Jordan's first "Air Taxi", in Amman, Jordan, January 4, 2019. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed

Two writers from Jordan and Iran have won the "Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies," which is organized by the Jordanian Writers Association, with the support of Dr. Youssef Bakkar, Petra News Agency reported.

The $3,000 award was announced Saturday by the General Secretariat of the "Yousef Bakkar Prize for Oriental Studies.”

According to an Association statement, the award was jointly won by: Dr. Abbas Abdel Halim Abbas, from Jordan, for his book "Abdul Wahhab Azzam, A Civilizational Project, a Study of His Literary Efforts and Comparative Eastern Cultures", and Dr. Yadallah Malayri, from Iran, for his book "The Neighbors in the Eastern Mediterranean, the political novel between Persian and Arabic, Ahmed Mahmoud and Abd al-Rahman Munif as a model.”

The "Yousef Bakkar Award for Oriental Studies,” the first of its kind on the Arab and Islamic levels, constitutes a quantum leap in supporting and encouraging specialists in oriental studies, and aims to contribute positively in serving Islamic civilization by reviving literary and cultural relations between oriental languages, especially Arabic, Persian and Turkish, Petra said.

The President of the Jordanian Writers Association, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Award and its Secretary General, lawyer and poet Akram Al-Zoubi, said that the association will soon hold a special ceremony to honor the award winners, expressing appreciation for the support of the Award’s Board of Trustees and its arbitrators.



Winter at Tantora Festival Begins in AlUla

Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)
Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)
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Winter at Tantora Festival Begins in AlUla

Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)
Winter at Tantora Festival begins in AlUla. (SPA)

This year's Winter at Tantora Festival opened Thursday in AlUla, celebrating the region's unique blend of art, culture, and heritage.
The festival, part of ongoing efforts to position AlUla as a premier global tourist destination, will run until January 11. The opening day attracted a large number of visitors who enjoyed a variety of cultural and heritage activities, including live musical performances, art exhibitions, guided tours to archaeological sites, and traditional folk-art displays, said the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
The festival features a rich program of activities catering to all ages, including workshops, interactive experiences, and culinary events that highlight local cuisine. It also provides an opportunity to explore traditional wedding customs, offering visitors an authentic insight into Saudi culture.
Winter at Tantora is one of the flagship initiatives supporting tourism and heritage as part of the Saudi Vision 2030, and it serves as a platform for cultural exchange, bringing together attendees from around the world.