His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council member and ruler of Sharjah attended this evening the opening ceremony of the 9th Sharjah Popular Poetry Festival at the Cultural Palace. The festival is co-organised by the Department of Culture and Information and the Sharjah Centre of Popular Poetry. It will run until 8 February. Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Owais said in a speech that it was time for popular poetry talents to meet in the event patronised by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. "Popular poetry is a treasure, containing wisdom, wit, and storytelling," he added. Sheikh Sultan honoured a group of prominent Emirati popular poets, including Isa bin Qatami Al Mansour, Humaid bin Khalifa bin Dhaiban, and Amna bint Ali bin Hamad Al Mualla, a poetess who writes under the pseudonym 'Salwan'. Sheikh Sultan also attended a poetry night. He also toured the poetry exhibition, being held on the festival's sidelines.