The prestigious Ibn Battuta Prize for Travel Literature, one of the vital Arab awards within the style, has acknowledged seven Moroccan writers alongside winners from Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt in its 2024–2025 version.
The Arab Center for Geographic Literature – Rihlat Al-Afaq awarded the prize to Moroccan writers Abdelhadi Al-Kadioui, Mohammed Al-Nidham, Mohammed Al-Andalusi, Abdelrahman Al-Tamara, Houria Al-Rifi, Abdelaziz Jadir, and Mohamed Khatabi. Egyptian winners included Mohammed Salem Abada and Taha Al-Shazly Ali, whereas Lebanese author Issa Makhlouf, Jordanian writer Issam Mohammed Al-Shahadat, and Saudi author Masha’an Al-Masha’an have been additionally honored.
Additionally, the jury recommended the works of Palestinian author Mustafa Mohammed Bsharat, Moroccan writer Soufiane Belhaj, and Egyptian author Ahmed Abu Diab.
The award’s choice committee, primarily based in Abu Dhabi and London, included students and literary figures resembling Khaldoun Al-Shammaa, Abdelrahman Bseiso, Ahmed Barqawi, Ibrahim Al-Jabeen, and Ahmed Ibish. The jury consisted of Abdelnabi Dhakir, Al-Tayeh Al-Haddawi, Shuaib Halifi, Moufid Najm, and Farouk Youssef, with Shadi Alaa Al-Din serving as coordinator.
This 12 months, 43 manuscripts from 9 Arab nations competed in classes resembling modern journey literature, edited manuscripts, diaries, and translated travelogues. The judging course of concerned a number of rounds of choice, making certain anonymity for the submissions. After an preliminary screening, 26 manuscripts superior to the ultimate stage.
The Ibn Battuta Prize for Travel Literature, established in 2000 and first awarded in 2003, is overseen by poet Nouri Al-Jarrah and sponsored by poet Mohammed Ahmed Al-Suwaidi. It goals to revive Arab curiosity in geographic and journey literature.
This recognition of Moroccan literary achievements follows one other latest success, as 9 Moroccan teachers and researchers have been honored on the Arab Book Award ceremony in Doha simply two days prior.
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