During the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, a discussion session titled “Fifty Milestones in 21st Century Arabic Novels” took place, focusing on the significant challenges involved in selecting the top contemporary Arabic novels. This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Abu Dhabi Center for Arabic Language and “The National” newspaper, aimed at highlighting noteworthy Arabic literary experiences from the 21st century.
The session featured contributions from several prominent figures, including Saeed Hamdan Al Tunaiji, the director of the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and executive director of the Abu Dhabi Center for Arabic Language, Dr. Haitham Al Haj Ali, a professor of modern Arabic literature and critique, and Dr. Mohamed Abu Al-Fadl Badran, a well-known critic and academic. The discussion was moderated by Saeed Said from “The National.”
In his remarks, Al Tunaiji emphasized the increasing presence of Arabic literature in other languages and highlighted the growing interest in literature and culture within the Arab world today. He expressed that launching this project during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair is a significant event that brings together diverse cultures and ideas and reflects the center’s aim to create a qualitative map of the contemporary Arabic literary landscape. He also noted that determining the best modern Arabic novels presents a considerable challenge due to the absence of a clear critical framework to assess and highlight the most important works.