The International Prize for Arabic Fiction Nadwa is an annual writers' workshop for young writers from the

Arab world The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...

. Held under the aegis of the

International Prize for Arabic Fiction The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) (), also known as "the Arabic Booker", is regarded as the most prestigious and important literary prize in the Arab world. Its aim is to reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing ...

(itself funded by the

Emirates Foundation Emirates Foundation is a philanthropic foundation, charity set up by the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Emirates Foundation (EF) was launched in April 2005 as an initiative from General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown prince, ...

in Abu Dhabi), the ''nadwa'' is the first such workshop for Arab writers and has been an annual event since 2009. The (; 'assembly', 'symposium') benefits from the patronage of the Emirati prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, and takes place at the Qasr Al Sarab resort in

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...

. The small group of emerging writers is accompanied and assisted by two established authors who work as their "mentors". The literary output of the first workshop was collected and published in a volume called ''Emerging Arab Voices'' (Saqi Books, London 2011). The coordinator of the ''nadwa'' was Dr Peter Clark in 2009 and 2010 and

Fleur Montanaro Fleur(s) is French for flower(s). Fleur(s) may refer to: Music * Flëur, a Ukrainian band * ''Fleurs'' (Franco Battiato album), 1999 * ''Fleurs'' (Former Ghosts album), 2009 * ''Les Fleurs'' (album), by Ramsey Lewis, 1983 *''Fleurs 2'', a 200 ...

in 2011.

Participants

2009

Lana Abdel Rahman Lana Abdel Rahman (Arabic: لنا عبد الرحمن) is a Lebanese people, Lebanese writer and journalist. She studied at the Lebanese University in Beirut and the American University in Cairo. She lives in Cairo and works as a journalist. Abde ...

, Lebanon/Egypt * Mansour El Souwaim, Sudan * Mansoura Ez Eldin, Egypt * Mohammed Hasan Alwan, Saudi Arabia * Nadia Alkokabani, Yemen * Kamel Riahi, Tunisia * Mohamed Salah El Azab, Egypt * Nasser al-Dhaheri, UAE Mentors *

Jabbour Douaihy Jabbour Douaihy (; 1949 – 23 June 2021) was a critically-acclaimed Lebanese writer, translator, and professor of literature. His novels were nominated four times for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, and he has also published transl ...

, Lebanon *

Inaam Kachachi Inaam Kachachi (Arabic:انعام كجه جي; born 1952) is an Iraqi journalist and author. Inaam is an Iraqi writer, born in Baghdad in 1952. She studied journalism at Baghdad University, working in Iraqi press and radio before moving to Paris ...

, Iraq

2010

Wajdi al-Ahdal Wajdi al-Ahdal (, born 1973) is a Yemeni novelist, short story writer and playwright. Laureate of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) in 2008, is known for his contemporary literary style and sometimes socially critical works, some ...

, Yemen * Mariam Al Saedi, UAE * Akram Msallam, Palestine *

Rania Mamoun Rania Ali Musa Mamoun () is a Sudanese fiction writer and journalist, known for her novels, poems and short stories. She was born in the city of Wad Medani in east-central Sudan and was educated at the University of Gezira. Early life Rania Ali ...

, Sudan * Anis Arrafai, Morocco * Lina Hawyana al-Hasan, Syria * Tareq Emam, Egypt Mentors: *

, Lebanon * Mansoura Ez Eldin, Egypt

2011

Ali Ghadeer Ali Ghadeer (Arabic: علي غدير) (born Jan. 1st 1971) is an Iraqi writer and journalist. He studied military science at a military college, and obtained his BA in 1993. As a journalist, he has worked for a number of Iraqi news outlets. He has ...

, Iraq * Jokha al-Harthi, Oman * Mahmoud al-Rahby, Oman * Mohamed ould Mohamed Salem, Mauritania * Muhsin Suleiman, UAE * Rasha al-Atrash, Lebanon * Sara Abd al-Wehab al-Drees, Kuwait * Waleed Abdulla Hashim, Bahrain Mentors: * Mansoura Ez Eldin, Egypt * Amir Tag Elsir, Sudan

2012

* Huda al-Attas, Yemen * Sara al-Jarwan, UAE * Charbel Kattan, Lebanon * Waleed Ouda, Palestine * Mohammad Rabie, Egypt *

Ahmed Saadawi Ahmed Saadawi (born 1973, ) is an Iraqi novelist, poet, screenwriter and documentary film maker. He won the 2014 International Prize for Arabic Fiction for ''Frankenstein in Baghdad''. He lives and works in Baghdad. Awards and honours *2010 Beiru ...

, Iraq Mentors: *

, Iraq * Amir Tag Elsir, Sudan

2013

* Ayman Otoom (Jordan) * Hicham Benchchaoui (Morocco) * Samir Kacimi (Algeria) * Noha Mahmoud (Egypt) * Lulwah al-Mansuri (UAE) * Bushra al-Maqtari (Yemen) * Abdullah Mohammed Alobaid (Saudi Arabia) * Nasrin Trabulsi (Syria) Mentors: * Mohammed Achaari (Morocco) *

May Menassa May Menassa (‎; 20 July 1939 – 19 January 2019) was a Lebanese journalist, writer, editor-in-chief, critic and translator, best known as the author of ''Walking in the Dust'' and ''I Killed My Mother in Order to Live''. She was the first wo ...

(Lebanon)

2019

* Eman Al Yousuf * Wiam Al Madadi * Laila Abdullah * Salha Obeid * Mamoun Sharaa * Yasmin Haj * Hasan Akram Mentors: * Muhsin Al-Ramli * Iman Humaydan

References

{{reflist Arabic literary awards