The book fair named El Basri’s novel, “Al Hayat min Douni” (Life Without Me), the winner at a ceremony on Wednesday, October 31 in Sharjah, the cultural capital of the UAE. El Basri won AED 150,000 (about MAD 390,000). As a winner of the major prize, she can also expect an increase in book sales and international recognition.
Sharjah’s book fair is one of the largest in the world and the most prestigious in the Arab world. The fair which started on October 31, will remain open until November 10 at Expo Centre Sharjah.
According to Archy news nety, the 37th Sharjah International Book Fair will include “1,800 cultural, artistic and entertainment events by 472 guests from around the world. It has more than 1874 publishers from 77 countries and offers 1.6 million titles, including 80,000 new titles.”
In the prestigious celebration of the written word, the award for the best Arabic novel encourages the richness of the Arabic Language and valuing the Arabic novel.
The exhibition is one of the most paramount cultural events in the Middle East and North Africa region. The fair, organized by the Sharjah Book Authority (ALC), will welcome a plethora of intellectuals, poets, and novelists gathering to discuss varied topics on the literary scene in the MENA region.
Some of the prominent names taking part in the intriguing panel discussions are the International Prize for Arabic Fiction winner, Ibrahim Nasrallah; the Sheikh Zayed Book Award winner, Khalil Sweileh; and the world’s best-known Arabophone woman novelist, Ahlam Mosteghanemi.
The Sharjah International Book Fair plays fundamental role in promoting literacy, education, and the love of reading in the MENA region.
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