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Sihab Hamam 1932 - 2002 (70)

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Hamad bu Shihab (Hamad bin Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa bin Mesbeh bin Isa Al Falahi, 1932-2002) was a poet of the United Arab Emirates, one of the most important in nabati poetry, which originated from the Bedouins of the Arabian Peninsula and dates from the 15th century. Nabati poetry with its lyrical tone, its ability to connect the present with the past and its power in both narration and dealing with contemporary issues, is a vital component of the Emirati literary heritage.

Born in Ajman (capital of Ajman, one of the 7 United Arab Emirates) he made his first attempts to write poetry at the age of nine; at a young age, he joined the circle of poets in his hometown. In the 1950s and 1960s, Shihab traveled to many parts of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, working as a report writer and petitioner. In the 1970s, the poet settled in Dubai, where he became the first to establish and present a popular television poetry program. He also became the first to publish a literature page in one of the UAE daily newspapers.

Shihab was a supporter of the UAE union and one of his classic Arabic poems is about how much better is life after the union. The United Arab Emirates became independent in 1971 and initially the emirs of Abu Dhabi and Dubai formed a union with a common constitution and invited the emirs of the rest to participate. On December 2, 1971, four more emirates signed, and in early 1972, the union and the emirate of Ras Al-Qaeda joined.

Shehab was awarded the Personality of the Year award in 1989, and died on August 19, 2002.