Announcing the longlist of 18 published novels nominated for the 11th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Novel

About the Prize

The Katara Prize for Arabic Novel is a prominent cultural initiative that aims to:

• Promote Arabic literature, particularly the novel form;

• Honor Arab novelists and support their creative work;

• Encourage publishing and translation across languages.

The award includes several categories: published novels, unpublished novels, young adult fiction, critical studies, drama adaptations, and Qatari novel.

The 18 Longlisted Novels (Alphabetically by Author’s First Name)

#	Author	Novel Title	Country
01	Ibrahim Farghali	A House of Glass for Averroes’s Lover	Egypt
02	Ahmed Al-Zoubi	The Mirage Compass	Oman
03	Thaer Al-Nashef	A Wound on Leonardo’s Forehead	Syria
04	Hassan Al-Nawab	The Paupers’ Break	Iraq
05	Hamid Al-Raqimi	The Blindness of Memory	Yemen
06	Rahma Diyaa	Lady of the Vine	Egypt
07	Rola Khaled Alam	Free Titebira	Palestine
08	Sami Rajab	The Hour of Nouj	Tunisia
09	Sameer Samir Al-Margani	Dinner for Eight People	Tunisia
10	Sameer Darwish	Not Far from the Man’s Head – Aziza and Younes	Egypt
11	Abdullah Al-Hamad	The Eternal City	Morocco
12	Abdelmajid Al-Naimi	The Ostrich’s Ink	Morocco
13	Abdelwahab Al-Hamadi	The Year of Fat Cats	Kuwait
14	Abdo Al-Ahmar	Karl Marx’s Last Supper	Algeria
15	Mohamed Baraka	A Throne on Water	Egypt
16	Mohamed Nassar	Al-Tahiri Who Had No One Before Him	Palestine
17	Mostafa Al-Khamisi	Seven Movements of Cruelty	Egypt
18	Wajih Tawila	Years of Deception	Egypt

Key Observations

• Egypt dominates the longlist with 7 nominated novels, followed by Palestine with 3, and Tunisia and Morocco with 2 each.

• Other represented countries include Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait, and Algeria.

• The titles reflect a diverse thematic range, including historical narratives, philosophical inquiries, political critique, memory, and identity exploration.

• Some works exhibit experimental approaches and symbolic depth (e.g., Karl Marx’s Last Supper, A House of Glass for Averroes’s Lover), while others embrace realism or autobiographical tones.

What Does Longlisting Mean?

Making it to the longlist is a critical milestone toward qualification for the prestigious shortlist, which includes:

• Five winners in the Published Novels category, each receiving $60,000 USD.

• The first prize-winning novel is adapted into a television drama.

• It is also translated into English and French, widening its global reach.

Expectations and Critical Impressions

This year’s longlist showcases both established voices and emerging talents, pointing to a vibrant and evolving Arab literary scene. The diversity of themes, styles, and countries represented highlights a rich literary panorama reflective of contemporary Arab societies and their transformations.

Conclusion

The Katara Prize continues to serve as a lighthouse of Arabic narrative art, offering authors a global platform for recognition and promoting literary dialogue across cultures.

📌 For more information, visit:
🌐 www.katara.net