The Emirates Writers Union, in collaboration with the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, hosted a panel discussion featuring authors from the short list of the award. The session was moderated by writer Aisha Sultan and included participants such as novelists Nadia Al-Najjar, Mohamed Samir Nada, Haneen Al-Saiegh, and Azhar Jarkas.
At the outset, Aisha Sultan introduced the authors and their notable works that made it to the short list for the Arabic Fiction Prize. She first spoke about Lebanese poet and novelist Haneen Al-Saiegh, who transitioned from poetry to writing her debut novel titled “The Women’s Covenant,” which has qualified for the finals of the prize.
Haneen shared insights about her writing journey, mentioning, “Through my travels and discussions with numerous women across different countries and cultures, I discovered that every mother I’ve encountered has expressed feeling guilty toward her children, regardless of whether she is working, a housewife, separated from her husband, or still living with him. In every situation, the mother endures this painful feeling of guilt.”
Following this, Aisha Sultan shifted the conversation to “Prayer of Anxiety,” a novel by Mohamed Samir Nada, which won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction in 2025. In discussing the book, he addressed the theme of individuals being stripped of their actual history and instead being told a fabricated, false narrative. He explored the concept of collective consciousness manipulation in societies and how controlling the past equates to controlling the present and future.
The discussion then moved to Nadia Al-Najjar, who discussed her novel “The Touch of Light.” She explained, “In this work, I explore the perspectives of a blind person who lacks visual memory, which differs significantly from one who possesses it. I focus on how they imagine and interpret their surroundings. In my view, they do see; they experience the world in a unique way.” She also researched smart applications designed to describe objects to the visually impaired and expressed her fascination, saying, “Today, the blind can utilize these applications, which effectively provide accurate descriptions of items.”
Lastly, Azhar Jarkas spoke about his book “Valley of Butterflies,” a narrative blending fantasy with reality, infusing tragedy with comedy. He emphasized the loss of childhood during wars, aiming to highlight that while adults choose their destinies, it is the children who remain innocent amidst the turmoil of conflict. The protagonist, a record office employee, grapples with disillusionment but ultimately discovers meaning and redemption despite the adversities depicted in his story.