Kulthum Abdullah Salem bin Masoud (Arabic: كلثم عبدالله سالم بن مسعود; 1957)[1] is an Emirati journalist, writer,[2] poet[3] and businesswoman.
She has also held the position of Director-General of the Arab Union for Publishing and Distribution since 2017,[8] She is an Extraordinary Ambassador for Free Culture of the Naji Al-Numan Foundation in Beirut since 2015.
[citation needed] From an early age, Kulthum showed an interest in poetry and rhyme, which encouraged her to memorize poetic texts.
[15] Kulthum Abdullah was active in the Emirati poetic circles during the early 1990s through her participation in the establishment of the Emirates Women Writers Association.
After that, she published another poetry collection entitled “An Inscription in the Corners of Memory” (original title: Naqsh fi Zawaya al-Zakirah) in the year 2000.
[17] The event, which was held in the heritage district of Al Shindagha in Dubai, included a group of Emirati female poets who read a select number of their poems.
Kulthum opened the evening by reciting the poem "O Rider of the Chakra" (original title: Ya Rakib al-Chakra) which she dedicated to the rulers of the Emirates.
[19] Kulthum has been the representative of the Austrian PEN club in the Gulf since 2014, and she is a member on the project which aims to publish the "Symphony of the Empty Quarter": a collection of Arabic poems by Emirati and Omani poets translated into German.
[23] In 2015, Abdullah ran for membership in the National Council of the Emirate of Dubai (candidacy number 230) under the slogan "An hour, a nursery and home time equals a happy family."
[25] She was among one hundred Arab poets whose works were translated into Spanish within the poetic anthology compiled by the Iraqi translator and writer Nabha under the title "Contemporary Anthology of One Hundred Arab Poets- Part Two" (original title in Spanish: Antología Contemporanea de Cien Poetas Árabes, Segunda).
[26] Abdullah has published four poetry collections and one audiobook: Kulthum won a number of awards and honors during her poetic and journalistic career, the most prominent of which were:[27] She married in 1982, has three children, and lives in Dubai.
Kulthum owns an advertising design and production office, in addition to being the editor-in-chief and board chair of the International Business Women magazine.