SHARJAH: His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, on Wednesday, inaugurated the 14th edition of Sharjah Popular Poetry Festival at Sharjah Cultural Palace. The festival is organised by Sharjah Popular Poetry Centre, affiliated by Sharjah Department of Culture.

The festival started with a speech by poet Rashid Sharar, director of the festival, in which he thanked Sheikh Sultan for his patronage, and talked about how Sharjah is happy to welcome its guests of poets, critics and poetry fans.

He later delivered a poem in which he praised Sheikh Sultan for supporting poets and writers. There were some more poems were delivered by Saif Bin Kmaidsh and Abdullah Al Jabri before Sheikh Sultan went to the podium to begin the honouring ceremony. He also presented certificates of appreciation and memorial shields to pioneering poets Butti Al Mazloum, Salem Al Khaldi and Reema Abdullah Al Shorafa.