The literary award’s 11th edition highlights Morocco’s rising presence in Arabic fiction and criticism.
Fez – Morocco has secured a significant presence at the 2025 Katara Prize for Arabic Novel, with 15 works across five categories shortlisted for the award’s 11th edition, the Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) announced Monday.
The entries span across the competition’s five categories: published and unpublished novels, young adult fiction, historical fiction, and literary criticism.
The prize is one of the Arab world’s most prestigious recognitions in literature, annually celebrating outstanding contributions to Arabic storytelling. And 15 Moroccan titles made it to the shortlist.
In the unpublished novels category, Morocco earned two spots with “Umm al-Kurdan: The Biography of a Land and People” by Zine El Abidine Kentawi and “The Curse of Crossing” by Karim Faris.
Among the published novels, Moroccan authors Chakib Abdelhamid and Abdennour Meziane were shortlisted for “City of Eternity” and “The Naoumanya Bridge”, respectively.
Moroccan scholars also stood out in the critical studies category, with six of the 18 selected works authored by Moroccans.
Notable entries include “Cultural Interpretation of the Novel” by Rachid El Khadiri, “Contemporary Arab Novel: Self, Identity, and History” by Abdelaziz Bennar, and “Narratives of Emotion” by Adel Mejdaoui.
Moroccan writers also excelled in young adult literature, with three novels shortlisted: “Heroes of Light” by Aicha Bennani, “The Short-Statured Star” by Mohammed El Amrani, and “Wings of Wood” by Naima Fnou.
Meanwhile, two Moroccan works made the cut in the historical fiction category: “In the Footsteps of Idriss the Elder” by Idriss Naïmi, and “The Saint: The Story of André Filoder Mar” by Khalid Boudrif.
The recognition of 15 Moroccan works this year, out of 90 total finalists, reinforces the country’s deepening role in shaping Arabic literature and cultural discourse.
Organized by Qatar’s Katara Cultural Foundation, the prize awards winners in each category with substantial financial support, publishing opportunities, and translation into other languages. Winners are expected to be announced later this year in Doha
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