MUSCAT: The Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science announced the winners of the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature (12th Edition – 2025) during a press conference at the centre’s headquarters in Airport Heights on Wednesday.
The award celebrates outstanding achievements in culture, arts and literature. It is presented every year, alternating between a national edition for Omanis and an Arab edition that welcomes participants from across the Arab world. This year’s cycle recognised excellence in Private Cultural Institutions, Sculpture and Biography.
The winner in the field of Private Cultural Institutions (Culture) was The Assilah Forum Foundation from the Kingdom of Morocco. In the field of Sculpture (Arts), the award went to Dr Essam Mohamed Sayed Darwish from the Arab Republic of Egypt. In the field of Biography (Literature), the award was given to Lebanese writer and critic Hikmat al Majzoub al Sabbagh, known as Yumna al Eid.
Habeeb bin Mohammed al Riyami, Chairman of the Sultan Qaboos Higher Centre for Culture and Science, said, “The award reflects Oman’s commitment to honouring creativity and encouraging cultural dialogue across the Arab world.”
He explained that the award embraces a wide range of artistic and literary forms, showcasing the diversity and unity of Arab culture. He added that the judging process followed high standards of fairness and transparency, focusing on the creative depth and cultural impact of the participants’ work.
He described the winners as symbols of dedication and excellence, whose achievements highlight the importance of culture and knowledge as the true wealth of nations. The Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature is now recognised as one of the region’s most respected cultural awards. It celebrates creative achievement and innovation, showing Oman’s belief that culture is key to human growth and progress.
Al Riyami said, “The award stands as one of Oman’s cultural bridges with the Arab world, presenting the nation’s creative spirit to others while strengthening dialogue and shared knowledge across cultures.”
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