Dubai: The 14th Edition of The Poetic Heart promises to be an extraordinary two-day celebration of poetry and music, bringing together eminent poets from the UAE and the world, together with extraordinary musicians. Conceived in 2012 by SGI-Gulf in collaboration with the renowned UAE poet and Tagore Peace Award winner, Dr. Shihab Ghanem, The Poetic Heart continues to inspire audiences and promote values of peace, culture, harmony and intercultural friendship in the UAE.

The Poetic Heart by the Numbers – Over 14 Editions: 16 Different Languages of poetry, Over 90 Renowned Poets, More than 200 Student Poets, 27+ Celebrated Musicians, An audience of over 66,000 Attendees.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 – 4:00 PM – 8:30 PM / Venue: Zabeel Ladies Club (ZLC), Zabeel 1, Dubai
Thursday, February 6, 2025 – 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM /Venue: Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies (EIBFS)


A Celebration of Poetry and Culture: The highly anticipated 14th edition of The Poetic Heart 2025 – Connecting Humanity is set to take place on the 5th and 6th of February 2025 in Dubai. This year’s event will bring together an audience of over 800 young people from 250 schools, continuing its legacy of celebrating the beauty of language, culture, and human connection through the power of poetry and music.

Suresh Premkumar, Chairperson of SGI-Gulf, reflects on this journey, saying, “The Poetic Heart has been a fourteen-year poetic and musical journey that aims to spread humanistic values with the lofty vision of living in harmony with our surroundings. Coexistence teaches us to respect the sanctity of each life and to value and nurture it.”

On the first day, attendees will have the privilege of experiencing poetry recitations from a diverse and distinguished lineup of poets. Among them are the renowned Omani poet Dr. Saeeda Khatir Hassan, Idris Mears and Mark Feddis from the UK, Marjan Sami, who will recite in Persian, the Afghan poet Nafisa Khushnasib Ghazanfar, who will recite in Pashto, Dr. Mohammed Badran from Egypt, Dr. Shihab Ghanem, Wael Al-Sayegh and Najat Al Dhahiri from the UAE, poems by the late poet laureate Dr. Daisaku Ikeda, Kamlesh Bhatt Kamal and Hasseena Begum from India, and many more.

Over the years, The Poetic Heart has attracted an array of famous poets from around the world, showcasing performances in 16 different languages. Notable past contributors include poet laureate Dr. Daisaku Ikeda from Japan, Dr. K. Satchidanandan from India, Ali Alshaali, Shaikha Al-Mutairi and Dr. Talal Saeed Abdullah Al-Janabi from the UAE,
Zeina Hashem Beck from Lebanon, Dr. Sabrina Lei and Claudio Pozzani from Italy, Naomi Nye from the USA and Dr. Hassan Elmrani from Morocco. Their works resonate with universal themes, exploring shared human experiences.

The success of Poetic Heart over the past 14 years has been made possible by the incredible support of its sponsors. This year, a new group of generous sponsors has fully embraced the spirit behind the event, contributing to making it a beautiful reality. Event sponsored are ENBD, Property Finder, Confluence Consultants, Al Amanah Legal, Al Marai,
Choithrams.

Inspire the Youth, Inspired by the Youth: In a world increasingly dominated by technology, The Poetic Heart offers a vital space for face-to-face exchange, providing a unique platform for poets to connect with young audiences on a deeply human level. By fostering this direct connection, the event inspires young minds to explore their own creative expression, while reinforcing the transformative power of poetry to shape a more compassionate and connected world.

The Poetic Heart proudly encourages the reading, writing, and teaching of poetry among students across schools in the UAE. By engaging with schools nationwide, this esteemed event has become a key pillar in nurturing youth interest in poetry, creating valuable opportunities for students to express themselves.

On Day Two of the symposium, students from over 40 schools across the UAE will share the stage with notable poets like Thahaani Hashir and recite their original poems on themes such as peace, hope, happiness, and friendship. Some of the participating schools include ADNOC School Sas Al Nakhl, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Abu Dhabi University, Woodlem Park School Dubai, Amity Private School Sharjah, Virginia International Private School Abu Dhabi, Delhi Private School Dubai, GEMS Winchester Abu Dhabi, GEMS Millennium School Sharjah, and many more.

Endorsed by Knowledge Parkin Dubai and ADEK in Abu Dhabi, The Poetic Heart continues to expand its educational partnerships, providing a platform where young voices can contribute to important global conversations. This year, in partnership with Emirates NBD’s CSR initiative Together Limitless, a platform dedicated to advocating for people of determination, the event will feature poetry, performances, and active participation from students of centers such as Manzil Centre, SNF Development Center, Al Noor Center for Persons with Disabilities, and Merint Determination Center.
The Convergence of Poetry and Music.

At The Poetic Heart, poetry and music go hand in hand, creating a rich sensory experience. Renowned musicians will interlude with various compositions and preludes, seamlessly blending music with poetry sessions and creating moments of reflection and inspiration.

Among the musicians who have made The Poetic Heart a remarkable event are Osama AlSafi, K. Benny Prasad, Esther Eden, Soren Hansen and Dev Chakraborty. This year, joining the event on day one will be the famous guitarist and producer Kamal Musallam, together with the Guinness World Record holder for the most languages sung in a concert, Sucheta Satish.

A highlight of the event will also be the performance by Naseem, the in-house choir of SGI Gulf. Naseem, meaning “breeze” in Arabic, is a chorus composed of dedicated SGI Gulf volunteers. Since its debut at the third edition of The Poetic Heartin 2014, Naseem has become an integral part of the event, performing original compositions on themes such as motherhood, peace, friendship, hope, happiness, and the enduring strength of humanity. Naseem was also invited to sing at EXPO 2020—a testament to their growing prominence in cultural events.

The synergy between poetry and music at The Poetic Heart promises to create an unforgettable experience that resonates with all who attend, inspiring deep connections through art and humanity.