Doha, Qatar: The Ministry of Culture has announced that registration for the sixth round of the “Mthayel” Nabati poetry competition will close on August 25, 2026.
The round is open exclusively to Qatari nationals and residents living in Qatar. Organised under the slogan “For morals are guides,” the competition forms part of the third season of the Ministry’s flagship monthly poetry initiative, which runs over nine months and culminates in a grand final scheduled for December.
This month’s theme is “Al-Minna” (the favour or obligation of favour). Participants must submit an original Nabati poem of 12 verses that has not been previously published. Entrants must be at least 18 years old, complete the official registration form, and adhere to the competition’s rules and deadlines.
Registration is available by scanning the QR code released by the Ministry or through the dedicated website mthayel.qa. The Ministry invited talented poets to “share your poems and be among this month’s winners.”
Mthayel is designed to promote Nabati poetry, support emerging and established voices, and reinforce Qatar’s cultural identity and heritage. Each monthly round selects one winner who advances to the final.
In the December finale, nine finalists compete for the top prize of QR1 million, with the remaining eight poets each receiving QR100,000.
The competition features both prepared poems and improvisation segments judged before a live audience and panel. Previous rounds in the current season have already produced several finalists, highlighting strong participation from local talent.
By restricting the August round to those based in Qatar, the Ministry aims to spotlight domestic poetic talent while continuing its broader mission of nurturing the art form across the region. Interested poets are encouraged to register promptly before the deadline.
