Many celebrities and artists gathered for the inaugural Golden Pen Award ceremony in Saudi Arabia, an event dedicated to honoring outstanding artistic and literary achievements. The prestigious ceremony was attended by Turki Al-Sheikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia.
Photographers captured numerous stars at the event, including Ayman Zidan, Elham Ali, Kosai Khauli, Menna Shalaby, Youssef El-Sherif, Mai Omar, and her husband, director Mohamed Sami.
Dazzling Appearances on the Red Carpet
Actress Mai Omar captivated attendees with her elegant ensemble designed by Lebanese designer Antoine Kareh. She donned a black corset-style gown featuring a three-dimensional feathered embellishment at the top. Initially designed with a sheer bodice, Omar opted for modifications, adding sheer black gloves for a refined touch. She complemented her look with flowing hair and makeup that enhanced her radiance.
Expressing her excitement, Mai Omar shared moments from the event on Instagram, writing: “Golden moments at the Golden Pen Award ceremony in Riyadh—a night filled with talent, creativity, and true inspiration! Honored to be part of this beautiful evening.”
Saudi actress Elham Ali also stunned in a romantic pink satin gown with a soft shimmer, featuring a flowing silhouette, cape sleeves, and a deep V-neckline. Hand-embroidered silver sequins, beads, and crystals adorned the dress, adding a touch of luxury. She accessorized with exquisite platinum and diamond jewelry and sparkling silver heels, completing her glamorous look with flowing locks.
Memorable Moments and Star Speeches
Veteran actor Ayman Zidan received warm admiration for his speech on stage, with many social media users praising him as an intellectual and literary figure.
Meanwhile, Kosai Khauli expressed his gratitude for being part of the Golden Pen Festival, emphasizing the importance of the event in supporting Arab writers and novelists. In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“My sincere thanks and appreciation to the Golden Pen Festival for this remarkable initiative in honoring creativity in literature. I am also grateful to the organizers for selecting me to present the Best Fantasy Novel award—an immense honor for me as an actor and a cinema and television professional.”
He continued, “A big thank you to the General Entertainment Authority and everyone involved in making this cultural event a success. My appreciation also goes to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its people, and its leadership for their continuous support of arts and creativity.”
About the Golden Pen Award
The Golden Pen Award was announced earlier as an initiative by Turki Al-Sheikh to support Arab novelists and strengthen the regional film industry. The award is chaired by Saudi author, critic, and translator Saeed Al-Bazai, with a distinguished panel of judges including prominent writers, critics, screenwriters, and directors.
The judging panel for the novel category featured Ahmed Mourad, Tamer Ibrahim, Abdo Khal, Saud Al-Sanousi, Badriya Al-Bishr, and Mufrej Al-Majfel. The critique category was assessed by Tarek Al-Shennawi and Hassan Al-Naami, while the screenplay category included Salah El-Jeheini, Mariam Naoum, Yasser Al-Madkhali, and Sherif Naguib. Esteemed producers and directors such as Ahmed Badawi, Sadiq Al-Sabah, Adnan Kayal, Marwan Mohamed, Khairy Beshara, Abdelilah Al-Qurashi, and Mohamed Shaker Khudair were also part of the selection process.
Turki Al-Sheikh shared his admiration for the awards ceremony via his official X account, posting a video from the event and describing it as an “exceptional initiative to honor the most influential literary and artistic works, celebrating the winners of the Golden Pen Award in literature.”