Nadwa 2011

October 2011 saw the third 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 Mansoura Ez Eldin and Amir Tag Elsir, the writers worked to each produce a new piece of creative writing, which will in turn be translated into English for future publication. Under the mentors’ guidance, the writers were encouraged to meet daily to examine each other’s work and discuss broader subjects of literary interest, such as the use of dialect in fiction.

Ranging from 24 to 42 years in age, the three female and five male writers came from seven countries across the Middle East: the UAE, Oman, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait, Mauritania and Lebanon. They came commended by previous Judges of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction as promising literary talent, having had work submitted for the Prize in the past year.

Nadwa 2011 participants:
Ali Ghadeer, Iraq
Jokha al-Harthi, Oman
Mahmoud al-Rahby, Oman
Mohamed ould Mohamed Salem, Mauritania
Muhsin Suleiman, United Arab Emirates
Rasha al-Atrash, Lebanon
Sara Abd al-Wehab al-Drees, Kuwait
Waleed Abdulla Hashim, Bahrain

Mentors:
Mansoura Ez Eldin, Egypt
Amir Tag Elsir, Sudan

Coordinator:
Fleur Montanaro, UK