Nadwa 2013

October 2013 saw the fifth IPAF Nadwa, or writers’ workshop, take place in Abu Dhabi. Over eight days, eight promising young writers from across the Arab World participated in a workshop at the Qasr al Sarab resort, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region.

Guided by mentors Mohammed Achaari and May Menassa, the writers worked to each produce a new piece of creative writing. Under the mentors’ guidance, they were encouraged to meet daily to examine each other’s work and discuss broader subjects of literary interest.

Ranging from 29 to 43 years in age, the four female and four male writers came from eight countries across the Arab world: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Yemen, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Syria. These authors had been identified by former IPAF judges as ‘ones to watch’.