DOHA, October QNA 17, 2025 – The Cultural Village Foundation, Katara, announced on Thursday the winners of the 11th Katara Prize for Arabic Novel during a grand ceremony held at the Katara Opera House in Doha. The event was attended by ministers, diplomats, writers, cultural figures, and literature enthusiasts.
In the Published Novels category, awards went to Hamid Al-Ruqaimi (Yemen), Rola Ghanem (Palestine), and Mohammed Jubeiti (Palestine). Winners of the Unpublished Novels category included Ahmed Saber Hussein (Egypt), Saad Mohammed (Iraq), and Maryam Qush (Palestine). Each received $30,000, and their works will be translated into English.
The Literary Criticism Award was presented to scholars from Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt, while the Young Adult Fiction category honored writers from Syria, Algeria, and Morocco, each receiving $15,000. Omar Al-Jamali (Tunisia) won in the Unpublished Historical Novel category, and Dr. Huda Al-Nuaimi (Qatar) was recognized for the Published Qatari Novel.
Katara General Manager Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti said that since the prize’s inception, over 17,000 entries have been submitted, producing 183 winners to date. He highlighted that UNESCO’s designation of World Arabic Novel Week (October 13–19) originated from a Katara proposal, underscoring the award’s growing global influence.
The 2025 edition introduced a Guest of Honour initiative celebrating Saudi Arabian literature for its contribution to the Arabic novel. Dr. Al Sulaiti also announced new programs including “The Novel Brings Us Together,” pairing Qatari authors with writers from the guest country, and a Youth Novel Competition for university students across the Arab world.
Looking ahead, Katara plans to launch the Katara International Prize for novels in English, French, and Spanish, promoting global cultural dialogue and literary exchange.