Riyadh, 2 Sha'ban 1447 AH (21 January 2026)

The fourth season of the "Sha'er Al-Raya" (Poet of the Banner) programme concluded last night in a cultural evening celebrating poetry and national identity, attended by officials, media and a large audience. The programme is one of the Kingdom's leading platforms for supporting poetic talent.

The final episode at Al-Diriyah Theatre in Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University pitted four poets against one another: Mohammed Al-Muhalkam, Abdullah Al-Juhami, Abdullah Al-Salakhi and Mishari Al-Abdali, in an atmosphere of creativity and artistic variety. The evening included a musical set by the artist Dr. Abadi Al-Johar with the Al-Raya folk troupe, rounding out the event.

At the close of the episode, Mohammed Al-Muhalkam was announced the winner of the "Poet of the Banner" title and a prize of SAR 1 million, with Abdullah Al-Salakhi second, Mishari Al-Abdali third and Abdullah Al-Juhami fourth. Season after season, the programme continues to energise cultural life and support national creativity in line with Vision 2030.

At a Glance

  • Venue: Al-Diriyah Theatre, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University
  • Date: 21 January 2026
  • Time: Evening
  • Entry: By invitation