Dubai, UAE, April 17, 2019:  The winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction 2019 will be announced at a ceremony at the Fairmount Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday 23 April 2019, from 7pm (GST). The ceremony will be followed by a press conference with the 2019 winner from 8.30pm (GST) at the same venue. 

 

The 2019 shortlist, with author names in alphabetical order, is as follows:

 

Author	Title	Country of origin	Publisher
Hoda Barakat	The Night Mail	Lebanon	Dar al-Adab
Adel Esmat	The Commandments	Egypt	Kotob Khan
Inaam Kachachi	The Outcast	Iraq	Dar al-Jadid
Mohammed Al-Maazuz	What Sin Caused her to Die?	Morocco	Cultural Book Centre
Shahla Ujayli	Summer with the Enemy	Syria	Difaf Publishing and Al-Ikhtilef
Kafa Al-Zou’bi	Cold White Sun	Jordan	Dar al-Adab

 

To celebrate the six authors and novels shortlisted for the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction, there will be a special series of events taking place in Abu Dhabi before and after the winner announcement. 

 

• Monday 22 April, Emirates Writers’ Union, Abu Dhabi National Theatre, 10am

An event hosted by Emirates Writers’ Union, will see former IPAF judge Parween Habib chair a panel discussion with the shortlisted authors

Following the announcement of the winning novel on the evening of Tuesday 23 April, the winner and shortlisted authors will participate in the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair as follows:

• Wednesday 24 April, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, 2-6pm, Al Multaqa Book Club

The winner and shortlisted authors will take part in a salon event 

 

• Wednesday 24 April, 6pm, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Abu Dhabi Book Fair Winner Event

The winner of the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction will join writer, broadcaster and IPAF trustee Yassin Adnan for a discussion about their novel in their first solo public event after the announcement

 

• Wednesday 24 April, 7pm, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, Sea of Culture Foundation Literary Salon

The winner and shortlisted authors will take part in a salon event hosted by HH Sheikha Rowda bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, Founder and Chair of Sea of Culture

 

• Thursday 25 April, 4pm, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, International Prize for Arabic Fiction Shortlist Panel

A panel discussion moderated by Yassin Adnan with shortlisted authors Kafa Al-Zou’bi and Mohammed Al-Maazuz

 

• Friday 26 April, 8.30pm, Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, International Prize for Arabic Fiction Shortlist Panel

A panel discussion moderated by Yassin Adnan with shortlisted authors Shahla Ujayli, Adel Esmat and Inaam Kachachi