The Banipal Prize, whose full name is the Saif Ghobash–Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation, is an annual prize awarded to a translator (or translators) for the published English translation of a full-length literary work in the Arabic language. The prize was inaugurated in 2006 by the literary magazine '' Banipal'' which promotes the diffusion of contemporary Arabic literature through English translations and the Banipal Trust for Arab Literature. It is administered by the Society of Authors in the UK (which runs a number of similar literary translation prizes), and the prize money is sponsored by

Omar Saif Ghobash Omar Saif Ghobash ( ar, عمر سيف غباش; born 4 June 1971) is the Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy in the UAE and an author. He was appointed ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to France on 24 November 2017, havi ...

and his family in memory of Ghobash's late father Saif Ghobash. As of 2009, the prize money amounted to £3000.

Winners and nominees

= winner

2006

* Humphrey Davies: ''Gate of the Sun'' by Elias Khoury *

Hala Halim Hala Halim is an Egyptian academic and translator. She studied literature at university, obtaining a BA from Alexandria University in 1985 and an MA from the American University in Cairo in 1992. She completed her doctorate at UCLA in 2004. Halim ...

: ''Clamor of the Lake'' by Mohamed el-Bisatie * Paul Starkey: ''Stones of Bobello'' by Edwar al-Kharrat Judges: Moris Farhi, Maya Jaggi, Roger Allen

2007

* Farouk Mustafa (pen-name Farouk Abdel Wahab): ''The Lodging House'' by Khairy Shalaby * Marilyn Booth: ''Thieves in Retirement'' by Hamdi Abu Golayyel *

Peter Theroux Peter Christopher Sebastian Theroux (born 1956) is an American translator and writer. The younger brother of writers Alexander Theroux and Paul Theroux, during college Peter studied for a year at the University of Cairo. He became interested in Ar ...

: ''Saraya, The Ogre’s Daughter'' by Emile Habiby Judges: Moris Farhi, Maya Jaggi, Roger Allen

2008

* Fady Joudah: ''The Butterfly’s Burden'' by Mahmoud Darwish * Ghassan Nasr: ''The Journals of Sarab Affan'' by Jabra Ibrahim Jabra * Nancy Roberts: ''The Man from Bashmour'' by

Salwa Bakr Salwa Bakr (born 1949) is an Egyptian critic, novelist and author. Profile of the Egyptian Writer Salwa Bakr She was born in the Matariyya district in Cairo in 1949. Her father was a railway worker. She studied business at Ain Shams University, ...

Judges: Marilyn Booth, Aamer Hussein, Bill Swainson, Roger Allen

2009

Samah Selim Samah Selim is an Egyptian scholar and translator of Arabic literature. She studied English literature at Barnard College, and obtained her PhD from Columbia University in 1997. At present she is an associate professor at the Department of Afri ...

: ''The Collar and the Bracelet'' by Yahya Taher Abdullah * Michelle Hartman: ''Wild Mulberries'' by

Iman Humaydan Younes Iman Humaydan (born 1956) is a Lebanese writer, researcher and creative writing professor at Saint-Denis Paris 8 University in France. She was born in the Mount Lebanon governorate in 1956. She studied sociology and Anthropology at the American Uni ...

* Elliott Colla: ''Gold Dust'' by Ibrahim al-Koni Judges: Francine Stock, Aamer Hussein, Marilyn Booth, Roger Allen

2010

Source: * Humphrey Davies: ''Yalo'' by Elias Khoury * Humphrey Davies: ''Sunset Oasis'' by Bahaa Taher * Kareem James Abu-Zeid: ''Cities without Palms'' by

Tarek Etayeb Tarek Eltayeb (born 2 January 1959) is an Egyptian-Sudanese Sudanese or Sudanic may refer to: *pertaining to the country of Sudan **the people of Sudan, see Demographics of Sudan *pertaining to Sudan (region) **Sudanic languages **Sudanic race, s ...

Judges:

Margaret Drabble Dame Margaret Drabble, Lady Holroyd, (born 5 June 1939) is an English biographer, novelist and short story writer. Drabble's books include '' The Millstone'' (1965), which won the following year's John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize, and ''Jer ...

Susan Bassnett Susan Edna Bassnett, (born 21 October 1945) is a translation theorist and scholar of comparative literature. She served as pro-vice-chancellor at the University of Warwick for ten years and taught in its Centre for Translation and Comparative C ...

, Elliott Colla, Yasir Suleiman

2011

Source: * Khaled Mattawa: ''Selected Poems'' by Adonis *

Barbara Romaine Barbara Romaine (born 1959) is an academic and translator of Arabic literature. From 2008 to 2021 she taught in the Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies at Villanova University, where she also edited a periodical, ''Writing in Tongues: A G ...

: ''Spectres'' by Radwa Ashour *

Maia Tabet Maia Tabet is an Arabic-English literary translator with a background in editing and journalism. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1956, she was raised in Lebanon, India, and England. She studied philosophy and political science at the American Universi ...

: ''White Masks'' by Elias Khoury Judges: Sarah Churchwell, Joan Smith, Christina Phillips,

Samuel Shimon Samuel Shimon (born 1956 in Al-Habbaniyah, Iraq) is an Iraqi writer and journalist of Assyrian descent. He left Iraq in 1979 with dreams of becoming a director in Hollywood, and has since then lived in Damascus, Amman, Beirut, Nicosia, Aden, Cairo, ...

2012

Source: * Roger Allen: ''A Muslim Suicide'' by Bensalem Himmich * Humphrey Davies: ''I Was Born There, I Was Born Here'' by

Mourid Barghouti Mourid Barghouti ( ar, مريد البرغوثي, ; 8 July 1944 – 14 February 2021) was a Palestinian poet and writer. Biography Barghouti was born in Deir Ghassana, near Ramallah, on the West Bank, in 8 July 1944. He studied English lit ...

Judges: Ruth Padel, Esther Freud,

Fadhil al-Azzawi Fadhil Al Azzawi (Arabic: فاضل العزاوي ; born 1940 in Kirkuk, Iraq) is an Iraqi writer highly respected in the Arab world, as he has published ten volumes of poetry, six novels, three books of criticism and memoir, and several translat ...

, John Peate

2013

Source: * Jonathan Wright: ''Azazeel'' by Youssef Ziedan * William Maynard Hutchins: ''A Land Without Jasmine'' by Wajdi al-Ahdal Judges: Humphrey Davies,

Hassan Abdulrazzak Hassan Abdulrazzak (Arabic: حسن عبد الرزاق) is an Iraqi playwright and writer. He was born in Prague and studied molecular biology at university, obtaining a PhD from University College London in 1999. He has written a number of plays ...

, Rajeev Balasubramanyam,

Meike Ziervogel Meike Ziervogel (born 1967, Germany) is a novelist and publisher. Life Ziervogel was born in 1967 in Kiel in Germany and grew up in Schleswig-Holstein and Hessen. She came to London in the UK in 1986 to study Arabic language and literature. S ...

2014

Source: * Sinan Antoon: ''The Corpse Washer'' by Sinan Antoon *

Paula Haydar Paula Haydar (born 1965) is an American academic and translator. She has a PhD in Comparative literature and an MFA in Literary translation. She won an Arkansas Arabic Translation Prize for her translation of Elias Khoury's ''The Kingdom of S ...

: ''June Rain'' by Jabbour Douaihy Longlist * ''The Mehlis Report'' by

Rabee Jaber Rabee Jaber ( ar, ربيع جابر; born 1972) is a Lebanese novelist and journalist, born in Beirut, Lebanon. Life Jaber studied Physics at the American University of Beirut (AUB). He is also editor of ''Afaaq'' (in Arabic آفاق meaning H ...

, trans. Kareem James Abu-Zeid (New Directions) * ''The Arch and the Butterfly'' by

Mohammed Achaari Mohammed Achaari ( ar, محمد الأشعري; born 1951) is a Moroccan writer and politician. Early life He was born in Moulay Driss Zerhoun. He studied law at the Mohammed V University and graduated in 1976. He published a collection of sho ...

, trans. Aida Bamia (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing) * ''Private Pleasures'' by

Hamdy El-Gazzar Hamdy el-Gazzar ( ar, حمدي الجزار; born 1 October 1970) is an Egyptian writer. He was born in Giza and studied philosophy at Cairo University. He has been publishing since the 1990s; his literary output includes novels, short stories, s ...

, trans. Humphrey Davies (AUC Press) * ''Ben Barka Lane'' by

Mahmoud Saeed Mahmoud Saeed (born 1939) is an Iraqi-born American novelist. Born in Mosul, Saeed has written more than twenty novels and short story collections, and hundreds of articles. He started writing short stories at an early age. He wrote an award-w ...

, trans. Kay Heikkinen (Interlink Publishing Co.) * ''Other Lives'' by

Iman Humaydan Iman Humaydan (born 1956) is a Lebanese writer, researcher and creative writing professor at Saint-Denis Paris 8 University in France. She was born in the Mount Lebanon governorate in 1956. She studied sociology and Anthropology at the American Uni ...

, trans. Michelle Hartman (Interlink Books) * ''Throwing Sparks'' by Abdo Khal, trans.

and Michael K. Scott (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing) * ''That Smell'' by Sonallah Ibrahim, trans.

Robyn Creswell Robyn Creswell is an American critic, scholar and translator. Life He graduated from Brown University in 1999 and gained a doctorate in comparative literature from New York University in 2011. In addition to teaching comparative literature a ...

(New Directions) * ''House of the Wolf'' by Ezzat El Kamhawi, trans. Nancy Roberts (AUC Press) * ''New Waw'' by Ibrahim al-Koni, trans.

William M. Hutchins William Maynard Hutchins (born October 11, 1944) is an American academic, author and translator of contemporary Arabic literature. He was formerly a professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Appalachian State University in Boone, No ...

(University of Texas Press) * ''Moon and Henna Tree'' by

Ahmed Toufiq Ahmed Toufiq (born 22 June 1943) is a Moroccan historian and novelist who is serving as Minister for Islamic Affairs in the government of Morocco since 2002. Biography Toufiq was born on 22 June 1943 in the Marigha Village in the High Atlas. Aft ...

, trans. Roger Allen (University of Texas Press) * ''The Bridges of Constantine'' by

Ahlem Mosteghanemi Ahlem Mosteghanemi ( ar, أحلام مستغانمي), alternatively written Ahlam Mosteghanemi (born 1953) is an Algerian writer who has been called "''probably the world's best-known Arabophone woman novelist''". She was the first Algerian wom ...

, trans.

Raphael Cohen (translator) Rabbi Raphael ben Jekuthiel Susskind Cohen, in German Rafael ben Jekutiel Süsskind Kohen (Lithuania, 4 November 1722 – Altona, 11 November 1803), a kohen, was Chief Rabbi of Altona-Hamburg-Wandsbek from 1775. He was educated at Minsk under ...

(Bloomsbury) * ''Earth Weeps, Saturn Laughs'' by Abdulaziz al Farsi, trans. Nancy Roberts (AUC Press) * ''Gertrude'' by Hassan Najmi, trans. Roger Allen (Interlink Books) * ''Status Emo'' by

Eslam Mosbah Eslam Mosbah (born 1984) is an Egyptians, Egyptian novelist. He is best known for his 2011 novel ''Status: Emo'' which was described by Alaa Al Aswany as one of the best Arabic novels of the decade. It has since been translated into English by Rapa ...

, trans.

(AUC Press) * ''The Silence and the Roar'' by

Nihad Sirees Nihad Sirees (; born 1950, Aleppo, Syria) is a Syrian writer of contemporary fiction and screenwriter. He was born in the northern Syrian metropolis Aleppo and studied engineering in Bulgaria. Sirees emerged as a fiction writer in the 1980s, and ha ...

, trans. Max Weiss (Pushkin Press) Judges:

Paul Blezard-Gymer Paul may refer to: * Paul (given name), a given name (includes a list of people with that name) * Paul (surname), a list of people People Christianity *Paul the Apostle (AD c.5–c.64/65), also known as Saul of Tarsus or Saint Paul, early Chr ...

Lulu Norman Lulu may refer to: Companies * LuLu, an early automobile manufacturer * Lulu.com, an online e-books and print self-publishing platform, distributor, and retailer * Lulu Hypermarket, a retail chain in Asia * Lululemon Athletica or simply Lulu, ...

, Jonathan Wright

2015

Source: * Paul Starkey for ''The Book of the Sultan's Seal: Strange Incidents from History in the City of Mars'' by

Youssef Rakha Youssef Rakha (; born on 12 June 1976 in Cairo, Egypt) is an Egyptian writer. His work explores language and identity in the context of Cairo, and reflects connections with the Arab-Islamic canon and world literature. He has worked in many genres ...

* ''Land of No Rain'' by

Amjad Nasser Amjad Nasser ( ar, أمجد ناصر), known with the pseudonym of Yahya Numeiri al-Naimat ( ar, يحيى النميري النعيمات), (1955 – 31 October 2019) was a London-based Jordanian writer, journalist and poet and one of the pionee ...

, trans. Jonathan Wright Longlist * ''Stealth'' by Sonallah Ibrahim, trans. Hosam Aboul-Ela (New Directions, USA) * ''The Penguin's Song'' by Hassan Daoud, trans. Marilyn Booth (City Lights Publishers, USA) * ''African Titanics'' by Abu Bakr Khaal, trans. Charis Bredin (Darf Publishers, UK) * ''Butterfly Wings'' by

Mohamed Salmawy Mohamed Salmawy is a leading Egyptian intellectual whose writings are widely read throughout the Arab World. He is the former president of the Writers Union of Egypt and the secretary general of the General Union of Arab Writers. A former editor-in- ...

, trans.

Raphael Cohen Rabbi Raphael ben Jekuthiel Susskind Cohen, in German Rafael ben Jekutiel Süsskind Kohen ( Lithuania, 4 November 1722 – Altona, 11 November 1803), a kohen, was Chief Rabbi of Altona-Hamburg-Wandsbek from 1775. He was educated at Minsk und ...

(The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Fullblood Arabian'' by

Osama Alomar Osama Alomar (Arabic: اسامة الحويج العمر) born Damascus, Syria, 1968, is a Syrian short story writer poet and essayist. He is especially recognized for his work in the "very short story" medium. He has published three fiction colle ...

, trans.

C.J. Collins CJ or similar may refer to: Businesses * BA CityFlyer (IATA airline designator) * China Northern Airlines (IATA airline designator) *CJ Group (also known as Cheil Jedang), a South Korean conglomerate * CJ CheilJedang, South Korean food and bevera ...

(New Directions, USA) * ''The Broken Mirrors: Sinalcol'' by Elias Khoury, trans. Humphrey Davies (Maclehose Press, UK) * ''

Diary of a Jewish Muslim ''Diary of a Jewish Muslim'' is a 2014 book by Egyptian author Kamal Ruhayyim. It constitutes the first part of the "Galal trilogy", dealing with the life of Galal, an Egyptian boy with a Muslim father and a Jewish mother and spanning the 1930s t ...

'' by Kamal Ruhayyim, trans. Sarah Enany (The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Who's Afraid of Meryl Streep'' by

Rashid Al-Daif Rashid El Daif (Arabic: رشيد الضعيف) (or Rasheed Al-Daif, Rachid El-Daïf, Rachid Al-Daif) (born 6 August 1945) is a Lebanese poet and novelist. He has been translated into 14 languages. He has been referred to as "the Arab world's answe ...

, trans.

and

Nadine Sinno Nadine may refer to: People * Nadine (given name) * Nadine, Countess of Shrewsbury (1913–2003), English opera soprano Film and TV * ''Nadine'' (1987 film), a 1987 film with Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger * , a 2007 Dutch film with Monic Hen ...

(Centre for Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas at Austin, USA) * ''French Perfume'' by Amir Tag Elsir, trans.

(Antibookclub, USA) * ''Nothing More to Lose'' by

Najwan Darwish Najwan Darwish ( ar, نجوان درويش); born December 8, 1978, in Jerusalem, is a Palestinian poet. The New York Review of Books has described him as "one of the foremost Arabic-language poets of his generation". In 2014, NPR included his ...

, poetry trans. Kareem James Abu-Zeid (NY Books, USA) * ''The Iraqi Nights'' by

Dunya Mikhail Dunya Mikhail (born 1965 in Baghdad, Iraq) is an Iraqi-American poet based in the United States. Life She was born and raised in Iraq to a Chaldean-Catholic family. She graduated with a BA from the University of Baghdad. Mikhail worked as a jo ...

, poetry trans. Kareem James Abu-Zeid (New Directions, USA) * ''The Woman from Tantoura'' by Radwa Ashour, trans. Kay Heikkinen (The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Dates on my Fingers'' by Muhshin al-Ramli, trans. Luke Leafgren (The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Oh, Salaam!'' by

Najwa Barakat Najwa Barakat ( ar, نجوى بركات, b. 1966, Beirut) is a Lebanese Arab novelist, journalist and film director. Career After achieving studies in theater (Beirut Fine Arts Institute) and cinema (French cinema Institution), she moves def ...

, trans. Luke Leafgren (Interlink, USA) * ''Where Pigeons Don't Fly'' by Yousef Al-Mohaimeed, trans. Robin Moger (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing) * ''Women of Karantina'' by

Nael Eltoukhy Nael Eltoukhy (born 1978) is an Egyptian author, columnist and translator. Eltoukhy has published two novellas and three novels in Arabic, including ''Al Alfen wa seta'' (''Two Thousand and Six'', 2009) and ''Nisaa Al Karantina'' (''Women of Karant ...

, trans.

Robin Moger Robin Moger is a British translator of Arabic literature. His translations include: * Ahmed Mourad - ''Vertigo'' * Hamdi Abu Golayel - ''A Dog With No Tail'' * Maan Abu Taleb - ''All The Battles'' * Mohammad Rabie - ''Otared'' * Nael Eltouk ...

(The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''The Crocodiles'' by

, trans.

(Seven Stories Press, USA) * ''Days of Ignorance'' by

Laila Aljohani Leila ( fa, لیلا, ar, ليلى, he, לילה) is a feminine given name primarily in the Semitic (Arabic, Hebrew) and Iranian languages. In Latin alphabet the name is commonly spelled in multiple ways, including Laela, Laelah, Laila, La ...

, trans. Nancy Roberts (Bloomsbury, UK/USA) * ''Chaos of the Senses'' by

, trans. Nancy Roberts (Bloomsbury) * ''The Lanterns of the King of Galilee'' by Ibrahim Nasrallah, trans. Nancy Roberts (The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Blue Lorries'' by Radwa Ashour, trans.

(Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing) * ''Beirut, Beirut'' by Sonallah Ibrahim, trans. Chip Rossetti (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing) * ''The Book of the Sultan's Seal'' by

, trans. Paul Starkey (Interlink, USA) * ''Monarch of the Square: an Anthology of Mohamed Zafzaf's Short Stories'' by

Mohamed Zafzaf Mohamed Zafzaf (Arabic: ; 1945 – 13 July 2001) was a prominent Arabic-language novelist and poet in 20th century Morocco. He played a pivotal role in the development of Moroccan literature in the second half of the 20th century and, due to ...

, trans. Mbarek Sryfi and Roger Allen (Syracuse University Press, USA) * ''The Chronicles of Majnun Layla and Selected Poems'' by Qassim Haddad, poetry trans.

John Verlenden John Verlenden is an American academic, writer and award-winning translator of Arabic literature. He obtained a BA in English literature from Rhodes College in 1986 followed by an MFA in Creative Writing from Louisiana State University in 1988. He ...

and

Ferial Ghazoul Ferial Jabouri Ghazoul is an Iraqi scholar, critic, and translator. She was educated in Iraq, Lebanon, Britain, France, and the USA. She obtained her PhD in comparative literature from Columbia University in 1978. Currently, she is chair and profe ...

(Syracuse University Press, USA) * ''Rain Over Baghdad'' by Hala el Badry, trans.

Farouk Abdel Wahab Farouk Abdel Wahab Mustafa (Arabic: عبد الوهاب، فاروق; – 3 April 2013), pen name Farouk Abdel Wahab, was an Egyptian academic and translator based in the USA. He was born in Tanta and studied at the University of Cairo. He receiv ...

(The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Land Of No Rain'' by

, trans. Jonathan Wright (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing) * ''Temple Bar'' by Bahaa Abdelmegid, trans''.'' Jonathan Wright (The AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''Chewing Gum'' by Mansour Bushnaf, trans. Mona Zaki (Darf Publishers, UK) Judges: Robin Ostle, Samira Kawar, Alastair Niven, Susannah Tarbush.

2016

Source: * Jonathan Wright for his translation of the novel ''The Bamboo Stalk'' by Saud Alsanousi Longlist * ''Confessions'' by

, trans. Kareem James Abu-Zeid (New Directions, USA) * ''The Bride of Amman'' by

Fadi Zaghmout Fadi Zaghmout is a Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the Eas ...

, trans. Ruth Ahmedzai Kemp (Signal 8 Press, Hong Kong) * ''Desert Sorrows'' by Tayseer al-Sboul, trans. Nesreen Akhtarkhavari and Anthony A Lee (Michigan State University Press, USA) * ''My Torturess'' by Bensalem Himmich, trans. Roger Allen (Syracuse University Press, USA) * ''Hurma'' by Ali al-Muqri, trans. T M Aplin (Darf Publishers, UK) * ''

Ebola '76 ''Ebola ‘76'' ( ar, إيبولا 76) is a 2012 novel written by Sudanese author and medical doctor Amir Taj al-Sir. Originally written in Arabic, the novel recounts the 1976 Ebola outbreak in Sudan. Plot On a hot, humid August day in 1976, ...

'' by Amir Tag Elsir, trans. Charis Bredin and Emily Danby (Darf Publishers, UK) * ''32'' by Sahar Mandour, trans.

Nicole Fares Nicole Fares is a Lebanese academic and translator. She obtained a bachelor's degree in translation and interpretation from AUST in Beirut. She then obtained an M.F.A in literary translation and a Ph.D. in comparative literature and cultural ...

(Syracuse University Press, USA) * ''The Automobile Club of Egypt'' by Alaa Al Aswany, trans. Russell Harris (Canongate, UK) * ''Ali and his Russian Mother'' by

Alexandra Chreiteh Alexandra Chreiteh ألكسندرا شريتح is a Lebanese author known for her portrayal of the barriers faced by Arab women. Life and Work Alexandra Chreiteh was born in Moscow, Russia and was raised in a religiously conservative region in Le ...

, trans. Michelle Hartman (Interlink Publishing, USA) * ''Telepathy'' by Amir Tag Elsir, trans. William M Hutchins (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, Qatar) * ''The Scarecrow'' by Ibrahim al-Koni, trans. William M Hutchins (CMES, University of Texas at Austin, USA) * ''A Portal in Space'' by

, trans. William M Hutchins (CMES, University of Texas at Austin, USA) * ''All Faces but Mine'' by Samih al-Qasim, trans. Abdulwahid Lu‘lu‘a (Syracuse University Press, USA) * ''Mortal Designs'' by Reem Bassiouney, trans. Melanie Magidow (AUC Press, Egypt/USA) * ''The Dust of Promises'' by

Ahlem Mostaghanemi Ahlem Mosteghanemi ( ar, أحلام مستغانمي), alternatively written Ahlam Mosteghanemi (born 1953) is an Algerian writer who has been called "''probably the world's best-known Arabophone woman novelist''". She was the first Algerian wom ...

, trans. Nancy Roberts (Bloomsbury Publishing, UK) * ''Whitefly'' by

Abdelilah Hamdouchi Abdelilah Hamdouchi (born 1958) is a Moroccan writer. He was born in Meknes. He is a prolific writer of crime thrillers, several of which have been translated into English. He lives in Rabat Rabat (, also , ; ar, الرِّبَاط, er-Ribâ ...

, trans. Jonathan Smolin (Hoopoe Fiction, Egypt/USA) * ''The Holy Sail'' by

Abdulaziz al-Mahmoud Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud is a Qatari engineer, journalist and author. He previously served as editor-in-chief of The Peninsula and its Arabic counterpart, Al Sharq. As a writer, his debut novel '' Al Qursan'' experienced commercial success after its ...

, trans. Karim Traboulsi (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, Qatar) * ''The Bamboo Stalk'' by Saud Alsanousi, trans. Jonathan Wright (Bloomsbury Qatar Foundation Publishing, Qatar) * ''The Televangelist'' by

Ibrahim Essa Ibrahim Essa (Arabic:إبراهيم عيسى) (born 10 April 1994) is an Emirati footballer. He currently plays as a goalkeeper for Al Bataeh Al Bataeh ( ar, ٱلْبَطَائِح, Al-Baṭāʾiḥ) is a town located in outer skirts of the Emir ...

, trans. Jonathan Wright (Hoopoe Fiction, Egypt/USA) Judges: Paul Starkey, Lucy Popescu, Zahia Smail Salhi, Bill Swainson,

2017

Source: *

for ''The Book of Safety'' by

Yasser Abdel Hafez Yasser Abdel Hafez (Arabic: ياسر عبد الحفيظ), (born 1969) is an Egyptian novelist and journalist. He was born in Cairo and studied law at Ain Shams University Ain Shams University ( ar, جامعة عين شمس) is a public unive ...

* ''The Dove's Necklace'' by Raja Alem, trans. Katharine Halls and Adam Talib (Duckworth) * '' No Knives in the Kitchens of This City'' by Khaled Khalifa, trans. Leri Price (Hoopoe) * ''Limbo Beirut'' by

Hilal Chouman Hilal Chouman ( Arabic: هلال شومان) (born 1982) is a Lebanese novelist and writer. He was born in Beirut and studied communications and electronics engineering at Jâmi'at Bâyrut Al-Arabiya. He then obtained an MSc in aerospace commun ...

, trans. Anna Ziajka Stanton (Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Univ. Texas Press) Judges: Alastair Niven, Peter Kalu,

Wen-chin Ouyang Wen-chin Ouyang, () is a professor of Arabic literature and comparative literature at SOAS, University of London.Ben EastWill Arab novel expert judge for 2015 Man Booker International Prize help region’s chances? The National, October 14, 2013. ...

, Salam Sarhan.

2018

Source: * ''The President's Gardens'' by Muhsin Al-Ramli, tr. Luke Leafgren (MacLehose Press/Quercus) * ''Concerto al-Quds'' by Adonis, tr. Khaled Mattawa (Yale University Press) * ''Frankenstein in Baghdad'' by

Ahmed Saadawi Ahmed Saadawi (born 1973, ar, أحمد سعداوي) 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. Awar ...

, tr. Jonathan Wright (Oneworld) * ''Using Life'' by Ahmed Naji, tr. Ben Koerber (CMES Publications, UT Austin)

Longlist

* ''In Jerusalem and Other Poems'' by

Tamim al-Barghouti Tamim Al-Barghouti ( ar, تميم البرغوثي) is a Palestinian-Egyptian poet, columnist and political scientist. Nicknamed the "poet of Jerusalem" (), he is one of the most widely read poets in the Arab World. Life Tamim al-Barghouti was ...

, translated by Radwa Ashour,

Ahdaf Soueif Ahdaf Soueif ( ar, أهداف سويف; born 23 March 1950) is an Egyptian novelist and political and cultural commentator. Early life Soueif was born in Cairo, where she lives, and was educated in Egypt and England. She studied for a PhD in lin ...

(Interlink Books) * ''No Road to Paradise'' by Hassan Daoud, translated by Marilyn Booth (Hoopoe Fiction, AUC Press) * ''Divine Names'' by Luay Abdul-Ilah, translated by Judy Cumberbatch (Mira Publishing) * ''Hend and the Soldiers'' by

Badriah Albeshr Badriah Al-Beshr ( ar, بدرية البشر, born 1967 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) is a Saudi Arabian writer and novelist. She was born in Riyadh and obtained a bachelor's degree and master's degree from King Saud University and a PhD from the ...

, translated by Sanna Dhahir (CMES Publications, Univ Texas at Austin) * The American Quarter by Jabbour Douaihy, translated by Paula Haydar (Interlink Books) * The Apartment in Bab el-Louk by

Donia Maher Donia Maher (; born 14 November 1979) is an Egyptian actress, writer and artist. She was born in Cairo. After studying acting, she appeared in several theatre and film productions, culminating with her breakthrough role in Hala Lotfy's film '' A ...

(with illustrations by Ganzeer and Ahmad Nady), translated by Elisabeth Jaquette (Darf Publishers) * Suslov's Daughter by

Habib Abdulrab Sarori Habib Abdulrab Sarori (born 1956) is a Yemeni computer scientist and novelist. He was born in Aden and pursued higher studies in France, obtaining a master's degree in Informatics from the University of Paris 6 in 1983, followed by a PhD from the ...

, translated by Elisabeth Jaquette (Darf Publishers) * Tales of Yusuf Tadrus by Adel Esmat, translated by

Mandy McClure Mandy or Mandie may refer to: People * Mandy (name), a female given name and nickname * Iván Mándy (1918-1995), Hungarian writer * Mark Mandy (born 1972), Irish retired high jumper * Philip Mandie (born 1942), a former judge on the Supreme ...

(AUC Press) * All The Battles by

Maan Abu Taleb Maan or Ma'an may refer to: Places * Ma'an, a city in Jordan, and capital of the governorate * Ma'an Governorate, a governorate of Jordan * Ma'an, Syria, a village near Hama * Maan, Punjab, a village Kasur District, Punjab, Pakistan * Ma'an, Ca ...

, translated by

(Hoopoe Fiction, AUC Press) * Embrace on Brooklyn Bridge by

Ezzedine C. Fishere Ezzedine Choukri Fishere ( ar, عزالدين شكري فشير) (born 1966 in Kuwait City) is an Egyptian novelist, diplomat and academic. Early life and career Ezzedine was born to Egyptian parents working in Kuwait. At the age of two, he retu ...

, translated by John Peate (AUC Press) * Gaza Weddings by Ibrahim Nasrallah, translated by Nancy Roberts (Hoopoe Fiction, AUC Press) * Farewell, Damascus by

Ghada Samman Ghadah Al-Samman ( ar, غادة السمّان; born 1942) is a Syrian writer, journalist and novelist born in Damascus in 1942 to a prominent and conservative Damascene family. Her father was Ahmed Al-Samman, a president of the Syrian Univers ...

, translated by Nancy Roberts (Darf Publishers) * Bled Dry by

, translated by Benjamin Smith (Hoopoe Fiction, AUC Press) * The Blueness of the Evening: Selected Poems of Hassan Najmi by Hassan Najmi, translated by Mbarek Sryfi and Eric Sellin (University of Arkansas Press) * Fractured Destinies by

Rabai al-Madhoun Rabai al-Madhoun (born 1945) is a Palestinian journalist, novelist and writer. He was born in the village of al-Majdal in British Mandatory Palestine, near Ashkelon in present-day Israel. His family was driven out of Palestine in the 1948 Palest ...

, translated by Paul Starkey (Hoopoe Fiction, AUC Press) * The Baghdad Eucharist by Sinan Antoon, translated by

(Hoopoe Fiction, AUC Press) Judges: Pete Ayrton, Georgia de Chamberet,

Fadia Faqir Fadia Faqir ( ar, فادية الفقير) is a Jordanian British author and academician, involved in human rights issues. Biography Faqir was born in Amman in 1956 and educated in Jordan and England. She gained her BA in English Literature from t ...

and Sophia Vasalou.

2019

Source: * ''Death is Hard Work'' by Khaled Khalifa, translated by Leri Price ( Faber & Faber) * ''Celestial Bodies'' by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth (Sandstone Press) * ''My Name is Adam: Children of the Ghetto Volume 1'' by Elias Khoury, translated by Humphrey Davies ( MacLehose Press) * ''Jokes for the Gunman'' by Mazen Maarouf, translated by Jonathan Wright (

Granta Books ''Granta'' is a literary magazine and publisher in the United Kingdom whose mission centres on its "belief in the power and urgency of the story, both in fiction and non-fiction, and the story’s supreme ability to describe, illuminate and ma ...

) Judges: Ghazi Gheblawi (chair), Dr Jan Fortune, Abla Oudeh, Catherine Taylor.

2021

The shortlist was announced on 24 November 2021. The jury consisted of Roger Allen (Chair), Rosemarie Hudson, Ronak Hosni, and Caroline McCormick. The winner was announced on 12 January 2022. * ''Voices of the Lost'' by Hoda Barakat (Oneworld) translated by Marilyn Booth ebanon * ''The Girl with Braided Hair'' by

Rasha Adly Rasha Adly (born 1976) (Arabic: رشا عدلي) is an Egyptian writer and art historian. She is the author of seven novels, two of which have been nominated for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction. Early life and education Adly was born ...

(Hoopoe Fiction), translated by Sarah Enany gypt * ''A Bed for the King’s Daughter'' by Shahla Ujayli (Center for Middle Eastern Studies/University of Texas Press), translated by Sawad Hussain (Syria)\ * ''The Frightened Ones'' by

Dima Wannous Dima Wannous ( ar, ديمة ونوس) (born in Damascus in 1982) is a Syrian writer and translator. She studied French literature at Damascus University and the Sorbonne. Also, she studied translation in France and has lived in Beirut, where she wo ...

(Harvill Secker), translated by Elisabeth Jaquette (Syria) * ''God99'' by

Hassan Blasim Hassan Blasim (born 1973) is an Iraqi-born film director and writer. He writes in Arabic. He is a citizen of Finland. Blasim left Iraq in 2000 to escape persecution for his films, including ''The Wounded Camera'', filmed in the Kurd ug:كۇر� ...

(Comma Press), translated by Jonathan Wright

References

{{reflist Arabic literary awards Society of Authors awards Translation awards Awards established in 2006 2006 establishments in the United Kingdom

Winners and nominees

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Longlist

2019

2021

See also

References