As part of the Jeddah International Book Fair 2024, the Prince Mohammed bin Salman Global Academy for Arabic Calligraphy, one of the Ministry of Culture's initiatives, launched a global competition aimed at reviving the art of Arabic calligraphy and reinforcing its cultural standing. Fifteen calligraphers representing several Arab countries — including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, Sudan and Morocco — are taking part.

Competition details

Held in an atmosphere blending creativity and heritage, the contest sees calligraphers compete across three artistic tracks of Arabic script:

  • Thuluth Jali
  • Diwani
  • Naskh

A single winner will be chosen in each track by a distinguished jury of leading Arabic calligraphy experts, among them Mukhtar Alam, Abdul Samad Muhafiz and Mohammed Jaber. The winning pieces, representing the pinnacle of artistic creativity rooted in the traditional rules of Arabic calligraphy, will be displayed at the competition venue.

The initiative's vision

The competition reflects the Academy's vision of reviving Islamic artistic heritage and encouraging creativity, seeking to:

  • strengthen Arabic calligraphy's standing locally and internationally;
  • highlight its cultural and artistic role as an integral part of Arab and Islamic identity; and
  • raise awareness of the importance of preserving this rich heritage and developing it to keep pace with the times.

Competition stages

The contest unfolded over six stages, from the initial announcement through participant nominations, culminating in a final round where winners will be announced next Saturday as part of the Jeddah International Book Fair.

Strengthening cultural identity

The competition offers a showcase for creativity in Arabic calligraphy by combining traditional rules with artistic innovation. It focuses on drawing inspiration from the aesthetics of Islamic heritage and passing them to future generations in a contemporary style, helping cement the cultural and artistic identity of Arabic calligraphy both locally and internationally.