Abdullah Saqr, the late writer, left his mark between two creative worlds, establishing himself among the leading figures and innovators of the UAE. His creative journey began with literature, starting with his first collection of short stories 'The Stage', before he transitioned to the world of sports as a player, then a coach, and finally as the director of a sports academy, where he trained generations of talented footballers. Born in 1952 and passing in March 2025, Saqr is considered a member of the first generation of Emirati creators and, according to some historians, a pioneer of the short story in the UAE. This recognition is due to the significance of his first collection of short stories, 'The Stage', published in 1974 when he was only 23 years old. He also published the first collection of free verse poetry in the history of the UAE in 1975, titled 'Exile in Stolen Time'. His pioneering work in the short story was not only about the timing of its publication but also about its intellectual and artistic maturity, and its boldness in addressing and tackling societal issues and phenomena prevalent at the time. In 1984, facing rejection for the bold ideas in 'The Stage', Saqr decided to quietly withdraw from the cultural scene to avoid confrontation, turning to professional football. Despite this, he insisted that he had not completely abandoned literature and culture, as he continued to read and regularly published articles and Nabati poetry. In his later years, he released several poetry collections. In 2025, Abdullah Saqr passed away, leaving behind a precious creative legacy of short stories, articles, and both classical and Nabati poetry.
