* The Arabian Peninsula is home to poetry and poets, and a source of literary masterpieces with a firm position in human civilization.

His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Minister of Culture, valued the cabinet's approval to name 2023 AD as the "Year of Arabic Poetry", in celebration of the central value of poetry in Arab culture, throughout Arab history, and based on the influence of the Arabian Peninsula, which was and still is home to poetry and poets, and a source of literary masterpieces with a firm position in human civilization.

His Highness the Minister of Culture expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister - may ,d protect them - for the generous care and unlimited support culture and intellectuals receive, which gave Saudi culture the ability to be proud and celebrate its deep-rooted roots, ​​and authentic cultural elements, and present them to the world.

His Highness said: "The pride in the national identity and its associated cultural elements is one of the basic targets that the Ministry of Culture is working to implement, in achievement of the targets of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which made highlighting the Saudi national and cultural identity among its ambitious targets".

His Highness explained that the "Year of Arabic Poetry" initiative will be an umbrella for all manifestations of celebration of this major component in Arab culture in general and Saudi culture in particular, noting His Highness that the poetic scene in the Kingdom and the Arab world enjoys inexhaustible prosperity, and acceptance and celebration from the audience, and the "Year of Arabic Poetry" comes to enhance and support the presence of Arabic poetry and its influence.

His Highness the Minister of Culture emphasized that the land of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has since ancient times embraced the most important poets in the history of Arabic literature such as Imru' al-Qais, Al-A'sha, Al-Nabigha Al-Dhubyani, Zuhair bin Abi Sulma, Antara bin Shaddad, Tarafa bin Al-Abd, Amr bin Kulthum and Labid bin Rabi'ah, and formed a source of inspiration for the most important immortal Arabic poems, which made it the cradle of Arabic poetry just as it was a cradle of civilizations.

His Highness added: "Our country is the land of poets whose journey has been immortalized in the history of the Arabs for thousands of years, whether poets of the pre-Islamic era, or poets of the dawn of Islam and beyond, for poetry was associated with the Arabs and their culture, and formed a source of historical documents upon which historians and researchers relied to monitor historical events, including the ten hung poems (Mu'allaqat) which the Arabs have continued to transmit until the present day", emphasizing His Highness that the creativity of Saudi poets comes as an extension of an authentic literary experience with great historical depth.

The Ministry of Culture will work through the "Year of Arabic Poetry" to support the Arab poetic situation, and celebrate its previous and contemporary creators, in addition to highlighting poetic types and purposes, and enhancing its presence in life and society, through initiatives, activities and events held throughout the year in a diverse and rich cultural template, and a comprehensive and integrated experience that enhances the status of Arabic poetry.