Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority has opened registration for the 12th season of the television programme Million’s Poet. Registration will continue until 15 May 2025 through the official website: www.millionspoet.ae.
To be eligible, male and female applicants, must be between 18 and 45 years old and submit a classical Nabati poem with metered verse and rhyme, consisting of no fewer than 10 lines and no more than 18 lines. Submissions must be typed; handwritten poems will not be accepted. Full application guidelines and details are available on the programme’s official website.
Once the registration period concludes, the jury will begin reviewing and evaluating the submissions based on strict literary and artistic criteria. Shortlisted poets will then be invited for in-person interviews as part of the selection process for the live televised rounds, which will take place at the Al Raha Beach Theatre in Abu Dhabi. A total of 48 poets will be chosen to compete for the Poetry Banner (Bayraq Al-Shi‘r) and the programme’s prizes, the largest in the field of Nabati poetry.
Million’s Poet is the leading and largest Nabati poetry competition in the Arab world. It enjoys broad regional popularity and fulfills Abu Dhabi's cultural vision by restoring the prominence of Nabati poetry in Arab heritage, reflecting the authentic Arab identity, values, and regional dialects.
The show offers substantial prizes to the top six finalists, with awards exceeding AED15 million. The winner earns the title of Million’s Poet, the Poetry Banner, and a cash prize of AED5 million. The second-place winner receives AED4 million, third place AED3 million, fourth AED2 million, fifth AED1 million, and sixth AED600,000.
Since its launch in 2006, Million’s Poet has become the largest televised Nabati poetry competition in the Arab world. Over the past 19 years and 11 seasons, it has discovered and nurtured hundreds of poetic talents, many of whom have become leading figures in the region’s poetry scene. The programme has played a vital role in reviving Arab literary heritage and embedding Nabati poetry in the Arab collective cultural memory.
Each season, the programme continues to fulfil its mission of showcasing the role of the UAE, and Abu Dhabi in advancing cultural and creative excellence. It reinforces national identity and heritage values, supports exceptional poetic talent, and celebrates the literary contributions of distinguished poets. The programme also promotes critical studies and academic research on Nabati poetry, helping to preserve and sustain its legacy for future generations.
