The General Secretariat of the Khaled Khalifa Novel Award announced that five novels have been shortlisted for the award’s second edition (2026) following extensive and in-depth deliberations by the judging panel.
The shortlisted novels are: “Nearby Exiles” by Ibrahim Adnan Yassin from Lebanon), “M.T.A.” by Iraqi author Omar Al Azzawi (Iraq), “Washed Blood” by Medhat Saleh from Egypt, “To Be Built on Soil” by Mai Mahmoud Mohammed (Syria), and “The Elapsed Ones” by Tunisian author Imad Ali Quida.
These debut novels reflect a broad spectrum of public concerns and national and emotional themes spanning the Arab world. The selected works stand out for their strong narrative craftsmanship, refined literary style, and forward-looking perspectives that inspire hope and optimism for a better future.
The jury comprised Palestinian novelist Liana Badr, Egyptian literary critic Dr. Khairy Douma, and Syrian novelist and critic Dr. Shahla Al Ujayli. The General Secretariat will announce the winner in mid-September, with the award ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, September 30, marking the third anniversary of the death of renowned Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa in 2023.
The award, which is dedicated to debut novelists publishing their first novel, opened application for its second edition at the beginning of this year and carries a prize of $1,000. It was established by the friends of the late Khaled Khalifa to honor his name and literary legacy in recognition of his status as one of the Arab world’s most prominent novelists, whose works inspired generations and championed humanitarian values through their unflinching exploration and exposure of injustice.
The award aims to recognize and support novelists whose work embodies the spirit of innovation, freedom of expression, and cultural depth that defined the ethical and intellectual values Khaled Khalifa championed throughout his literary career.
Shortlisted novels in brief:
“Nearby Exiles”
Combining an intelligent plot, a satirical spirit, and fluid, engaging prose, the novel tells the story of a young man and his family from Lebanon’s Beqaa Valley from in the 1990s through to the fall of the Syrian regime. The story traces the impact of those events on an informal Syrian refugee camp in the Beqaa and explores the marriage that ultimately brings the protagonist together with Hassina, a woman living in one of the camp’s tents.
“M.T.A.”
The novel moves from a prison in Istanbul to the neighborhoods and homes of Basra in Iraq, portraying everyday life in the aftermath of the fall of the regime and the sectarian militia conflicts. The three letters of the title symbolize the transformations of the protagonist’s name due to the sectarian divisions that shape his life.
“Washed Blood”
Set in an unnamed country somewhere in the world, the novel features characters who, while vividly human, exist within an imagined reality. From their foreign names, such as Ariana and Arthur, which bear no connection to the Arab world, to its central premise that people do not truly own their blood and that their names are merely numbers in the Devil’s records, the story explores an unsettling and surreal vision of identity.
“To Be Built on Soil”
Set in a mountain village on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, the novel follows a protagonist whose life is disrupted by the arrival of a mysterious visitor. The only thing he learns about the stranger is that he intends to build a shrine dedicated to one of his ancestors on his land.
“The Elapsed Ones”
Blending fiction with reality, the novel explores the protagonist’s struggle with the post-revolutionary stagnation marked by the collapse of daily life and public institutions. The story brilliantly captures the collapse of social values, the feelings of human alienation, and the challenges posed by extreme notions of freedom. It also captures the heavy stagnation after a revolution-perfectly matching the elapsed and faded vibe of the word. The novel traces moments of love and human compassion that seek to compensate for the harshness and emotional barrenness of reality.
Last year’s winning novel, “The Female Mantis”, by Syrian novelist Manahil Al Sahwi, will soon be published by Egypt-based publisher Dar El Shorouk.
