Ousha Al Suwaidi was one of the UAE’s most popular Emirati poets. She was born in Al Ain in 1920 and was a well-known Nabati poet who was later known as Fatat Al Arab, “Girl of the Arabs”.
She learned to read and write herself and was honored at approximately the age of 15, and wrote about love, wisdom, patriotism, and nostalgia. This is a biography of Ousha Al Suwaidi with details on her life, poetry, awards, and legacy.
Quick Overview of Ousha Al Suwaidi
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ousha bint Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Suwaidi |
| Also known as | Fatat Al Arab, Fatat Al Khaleej, Ousha the Poet, Gulf Laureate Poet |
| Born | 1 January 1920, Al Ain |
| Died | 27 July 2018, Dubai, aged 98 |
| Buried | Al Quoz Cemetery, Dubai |
| Profession | Poet |
| Poetic style | Prominent Nabati poet; some poems in Classical Arabic |
| Main themes | Love, wisdom, patriotism, nostalgia |
| Official biographer | Dr Rafia Ghubash |
| Notable tribute | Google Doodle, 28 November 2022 |
Who Was Ousha Al Suwaidi?
Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi was an Emirati poet, one of the 20th century’s great Nabati poets. Her poems were on love, wisdom, patriotism, nostalgia and the UAE, its culture, its heritage, and its past.
She was employed in a very male-dominated field. She is now being cited as a pioneer by many Emirati women writers.
Her role is as significant within the UAE culture as she is in regards to her fame. According to Abu Dhabi Awards, she was recognized by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan for her efforts to promote local vocabulary and Emirati identity. Many of her poems were also translated into songs, and her words got to people who would not read a poetry book.
Must Explore: Dr. Saniya Habboub
Early Life and Background of Ousha Al Suwaidi
Where Was Ousha Al Suwaidi Born?
She was born in Al Ain on 1 January 1920. According to the press, she was born during the peak of the pearling boom and in the time of rapid transformation of the coast and oasis towns.
What Was Her Family Background?
Her family had a passion for literature and poetry. Her father was Khalifa bin Sheikh Ahmad bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi, and her brother was Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Suwaidi.
When she was a child, she was introduced to poets and heard them recite poetry. That early exposure had an impact on her voice.
How Did She Learn to Read and Write?
It is reported that she taught herself. She drew letters and words in charcoal.
In 1920, it was notthea norm to attend school for girls. She studied by listening, copying, and practice.
A Childhood Story About Her Future
Al Shindagah reports a story that at age 12 she dreamed she swallowed the moon. Then a local religious sheikh predicted her name would be known throughout the Arab world. It is not a fact but a reported story so treat it as her legend.
Rise to Prominence in Nabati Poetry
When Did She Start Writing Poetry?
At about age 15 she started to write poetry. Google tells us that her recitals led to her national recognition.
This was important because poetry was regarded as primarily a male domain. It was rare for a young woman to acquire a public name in it.
Who Influenced Her Poetry?
She was influenced by both classical and local styles in her biography.
- Al Mutanabbi
- Abu Tammam
- Al Maari
- Al Majidi bin Thahir
- Rashid Al Khalawi
- Saleem bin Abdul Hai
- Mohsin Hazzani
A composite of her voice will give you an idea of her range. She studied the classics of Arabic literature, but she wrote in the language of the mouths of the Gulf.
Why Was She Called the Gulf Laureate Poet?
According to Profiles, she wrote numerous poems in a brief period. From that output she was dubbed the Gulf Laureate Poet.
What Is Nabati Poetry?
Nabati poetry is a traditional Arabic vernacular poetry, which is used in the Arabian Peninsula. It started among Bedouins and is written in colloquial Arabic, not classical Arabic.
How Old Is Nabati Poetry?
The scholar ,Ibn Khaldun cited this poetry in his Muqaddimah, notes Abu Dhabi Culture. This puts the form in the 14th century or later.
What Does Nabati Poetry Talk About?
The language is simple, clear and direct, Abu Dhabi Culture reported. The themes include:
- Pride, chivalry and loyalty
- Shedding of tears for family, country or tribe
- Advice and wisdom
- Acknowledging people’s leadership and their successes.
- Stories, legends and riddles
- Poems about the desert and desert life
Is Nabati Poetry Still Popular?
Yes. According to Abu Dhabi Culture, it is “a revival fueled by the television competitions and the people’s appreciation”. It mentions the Poet of the Million program on Abu Dhabi TV, which is one such example.
Ousha is a part of that tale. Her verses are still a reference point for new Nabati poets.
From Fatat Al Khaleej to Fatat Al Arab
What Do Her Titles Mean?
| Title | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fatat Al Khaleej | Girl of the Gulf |
| Fatat Al Arab | Girl of the Arabs |
| Ousha Al Sha’er | Ousha the Poet |
| Gulf Laureate Poet | Nickname for her large output of poems |
Fatat Al Arab is her most popular work, which translates to “Girl of the Arabs”. She was previously known as Fatat Al Khaleej, “Girl of the Gulf”. Some pages, such as Google’s Doodle page, translate “Fatat Al Arab” as “Girl of the Gulf”, while her own website ousha.ae and Gulf News translate it as “Girl of the Arabs”.
How Did She Become Fatat Al Arab?
The National credits a 1989 collection by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which honoured her, with giving her the title.
Gulf News adds that the name came after a series of poetry recitals with him.
Major Themes in Ousha Al Suwaidi’s Poetry
- Love is a recurring theme in her verse of Nabati script.
- Patriotism: Love for the UAE and its identity
- Character: reflections on wisdom and life
- Nostalgia: memories of the past and old ways of life
- Inspired many poems, desert and Gulf imagery, landscapes.
- Faith: a poem in praise of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him
Was All of Her Poetry Nabati?
As a poet, she is well known for her Nabati poems, but not all her poems were in that style. Some of her poems were written in Classical Arabic, according to her profile on the Abu Dhabi Awards. One such poem was an eulogy for the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
Ousha Al Suwaidi and Women’s Empowerment in Literature
In a male-dominated industry, Ousha managed to get through. Google said that her early identification paved the way for women poets in the future.
Under her guidance, the poetic voice of women gained strength and has become an integral part of the cultural scene in the Emirates, says Abu Dhabi Awards. She demonstrated to younger women how a public literary life could be lived and how Emirati dialect and everyday life could be the subject matter.
Did She Write About Taboo Topics?
A Gulf News report features a Qatar University professor who spoke about a subject that was taboo for Emirati women—beauty of the female form. This courage is one attribute for which she is credited as a woman poet today, she said.
Ousha Al Suwaidi Awards and Recognition
Ousha was honored in her lifetime, and posthumous awards are available for new poets to celebrate her.
| Award / Honoured | ed By | |
|---|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi Awards | 2009 | Abu Dhabi Awards |
| Honoured at a Dubai gathering for her contribution to UAE literature | 2011 | Event under the patronage of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan |
| Annual award for female Emirati poets announced in her name | 2011 | Announced at the same Dubai event (Al Shindagah) |
| Al Owais Award recognition for serving popular culture through Nabati poetry | 2012 | Dubai Culture and Science / Al Owais Award |
| Personality of the Year | 2014 | Emirates Airline Festival of Literature |
| Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi Award for Popular Poetry | 2018 | Poetry House of the Fujairah Social and Cultural Society |
| Focused Personality | 2019 | Abu Dhabi International Book Fair |
| Abu Dhabi Festival Award | 2019 | Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) |
| The Ousha Award for Nabati poetry, announced | 2019 | Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development and Khalaf Al Habtoor |
| Google Doodle tribute | 2022 |
The 2018 Fujairah Award and the 2019 Ousha Award are two different awards named after her.
Which Awards Stand Out Most?
Her contribution to Arabic literature was recognised by being voted the 2014 Personality of the Year at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. Gulf News reports that Dr Rafia Ghubash accepted it on her behalf.
She was named the Focused Personality of Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in 2019. The fair granted her her very own pavilion segment and organized a roundtable discussion on her legacy.
Also very significant is the 2012 recognition of Al Owais. It acknowledged her services to popular culture through Nabati poetry through her long years of service.
What Is the Ousha Award?
The Ousha Award was announced on Emirati Women’s Day in 2019, reports Gulf Today. It is to recognise and promote Emirati women in culture and to find new talent in poetry, and it is designed to be held every year under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development.
Ousha Al Suwaidi Life Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1920 | Born in Al Ain |
| Around 1935 | Gains recognition for her poetry at about age 15 |
| 1989 | A collection by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid honors her and is credited with the title Fatat Al Arab |
| 1990 | Her first book is published by poet Hamad bin Khalifa Bou Shehab |
| 2009 | Receives an Abu Dhabi Award |
| 2011 | Honored at a Dubai event; her biography is launched |
| 2014 | Named Personality of the Year at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature |
| 2018 | Passes away on 27 July, aged 98 |
| 2019 | Abu Dhabi Festival Award, Book Fair focus and the Ousha Award announcement |
| 2022 | Google Doodle on 28 November |
Published Works and Literary Legacy
- First book (1990): Hamad bin Khalifa Bou Shehab’s; the poet published it.
- The official biography was prepared by Dr Rafia Ghubash, and launched at the Dubai event in 2011, titled Al Amaal Al Kamila Wa Al Seera Al Thatiya.
- A collection of poems: Dr Ghubash reports that around 150 poems were collected, and 18 of these were not published earlier.
- Women’s Museum, Dubai: one part for her
- Emirates International School: Library named in her honor
- Songs: many poems have been performed by Emirati and Arab singers
Dr Rafia Ghubash and the Women’s Museum
The poems were collected by Dr Rafia Ghubash, the founder of the Women’s Museum in Dubai, and documented. There is a hall in the museum in which the story of Ousha is told, she said.
Some poems have been translated into English as well and included in the official biography.
Her Reading Life and Personal Habits
Gulf Today reported that Dr Ghubash talked about Ousha at the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Book Fair. Ousha had abundant old and new books, and she used to go to great lengths to avoid people, she said.
Collecting her diwan, writer Naser Al Dhaheri called it a great encyclopaedia. It is revealed here that this was a poet who read and thought but not a performer.
Taking Her Poems to New Audiences
During the same event, Dr Ghubash indicated that the team is looking into composing songs of some poems for Lebanese singer Ghada Shbeir. The goal was to have a broader impact on Arabs.
The 2022 Google Doodle Tribute
Ousha Al Suwaidi was celebrated by Google on 28th November 2022. Emirati artist Reem Al Mazrouei has created the Doodle.
How Was the Doodle Made?
It took around 15 days to complete the job, reports Khaleej Times. The artist developed three ideas and made approximately 10 versions based on feedback.
She refrained from dark or sad colors and attempted to portray a quiet and peaceful atmosphere which suited the ousha’s poetry. The choice of the artist was made by Google as his style resembled Ousha’s spirit. She is a visual arts graduate of Zayed University and uses the folklore of the Middle East as her inspiration.
What Does the Doodle Show?
The image depicts a woman with her eyes closed, holding a scroll, surrounded by images of an aurora. The National says her hijab is flying in the wind, doves and swirling clouds.
It was their first encounter with the poet for many people all over the world.
Death and National Tributes
She died on 27th July 2018 at the age of 98 and was buried at Al Quoz Cemetery, Dubai, after the Friday prayers.
The UAE was deprived of a great symbol of literature, wisdom and poetry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said. Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who had attended the event, stated that she made a significant impact on Nabati poetry.
Minister of Culture Noura Al Kaabi dubbed her an extraordinary personality in the local culture scene. The Emirates Writers Union vowed to record her legacy and that she was the inspiration of the Women’s Poetry Movement.
Ousha Al Suwaidi’s Legacy and Influence Today
It is still considered to be a major step towards liberation for women poets and writers. The use of local terms in her literature preserves Emirati identity in literature, and songs that have been set to music carry her words to the new audience.
She has also left behind a legacy that helps new readers. The website ousha.ae and Dr Ghubash’s biography ensure that her poems and life story will be available for students and researchers.
Must Read: Sarah Al Amiri
Final Thoughts
Ousha Al Suwaidi’s tale is of a self-taught girl from Al Ain who transformed the spoken language of the everyday Gulf into poetry.
The greatest thing she did was the door she opened. She transformed Nabati to sing with a woman’s voice, a voice that wasn’t heard of many.
Had she been known to only this section of her story, she would be believed as the Emirati poet Fatat Al Arab and her words continue to be read in books, sung in songs and awarded in names by new readers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Ousha Al Suwaidi?
Fatat Al Arab (1920 – ), an Emirati poet in the form of a Nabati.
When was Ousha Al Suwaidi born?
She was born in Al Ain on 1st January 1920.
When did Ousha Al Suwaidi die?
She died on 27 July 2018 at the age of 98.
Why is she called Fatat Al Arab?
It translates as “Girl of the Arabs” which was a name given to her by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid for her collection and recitations with him in 1989.
What is Nabati poetry?
It is a poetry of the gulf and in the vernacular, spoken language.
What did Ousha Al Suwaidi write about?
Mainly love, wisdom, patriotism, and nostalgia.
Did Ousha Al Suwaidi receive awards?
Yes – that includes the Abu Dhabi Award in 2009 and the Personality of the Year Award in 2014.
When was her Google Doodle?
It was released by Google on 28th November 2022.
Who created the Ousha Al Suwaidi Google Doodle?
Reem Al Mazrouei is an Emirati artist.
Who wrote her official biography?
Founder of the Women’s Museum in Dubai, Dr Rafia Ghubash.
Is there an award named after Ousha Al Suwaidi?
Yes, the Ousha Award, which was announced in 2019 for Emirati women poets.
Where is Ousha Al Suwaidi buried?
She is laid to rest in Al Quoz Cemetery, Dubai.
