While 2020 has been a challenging year, many people found solace in the written word, seeking out comfort and distraction from the pandemic among the pages of a gripping read.
From children's books to award-winning poetry, here, we take a look at some of the Arab writers who have rightfully been acknowledged for their work this year.
This is the second in The National's series of 50 Arab stars, including filmmakers, artists and musicians, of 2020.
Abdelouahab Aissaoui
The Algerian writer was recognised for his historical novel The Spartan Court this year, which won the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF). With the win, Aissaoui became the first person from Algeria to claim the award, which is considered the Arab world's top fiction prize.
Abdelaziz Baraka Sakin
The Sudanese writer, whose work used to be banned in his native country, received the 2020 Arab Literature Prize, awarded by the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. His book The Jungo: Stakes of the Earth, published in Arabic, has been also translated into French.
Amin Maalouf
The French-Lebanese author was awarded the National Order of Merit in France in March. Considered one of the most influential Arab writers of our time, he is known for mixing historical events with fiction. In September, his book Adrift: How Our World Lost Its Way, translated by Frank Wynne, was released.
Ibtisam Barakat
The Palestinian-American author and poet won the children's literature gong at the 2020 Sheikh Zayed Book Award. Her book Al Fatat Al Lialakia (The Lilac Girl) is about a young Palestinian girl who loves to paint but has lost her home due to war.
Lama Bazzari and Farrah Abuasad
Lama Bazzari and her daughter, Farrah Abuasad, co-authored Craving Palestine, a non-profit cookbook that celebrates Palestinian cuisine, co-curated by Palestinian chef Fadi Kattan. Published in the US but shipping globally, the book has been endorsed by celebrities around the world including Mohamed Hadid.
Malaka Gharib
The Egyptian-Filipino encapsulated her Arab-American experience in the graphic memoir, I Was Their American Dream. Gharib, who is also a journalist, won the 2020 Arab American Book Award in the young adult and children's category for the work.
Massoud Hayoun
The Arab-American author reclaimed his identity in his debut book When We Were Arabs: A Jewish Family's Forgotten History. The family memoir, which was released last year, won Hayoun the Evelyn Shakir Non-Fiction Award at this year's Arab American Book Awards.
Moncef Ouhaibi
The Tunisian writer and professor of Arabic literature won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Literature for Belkas ma Qabl Al Akheera (The Penultimate Cup). This marked the first time the award was given to a work of poetry, in which Ouhaibi explores the position Tunisia occupies within the Mediterranean.
Nadine Kaadan
After winning the The Arab British Centre Award for Culture last year, the children's book author and illustrator from Syria was nominated for the Asian Women of Achievement Award 2020. In November, she was featured on the BBC's 100 Women list of the most inspiring and influential women from around the world. Her most recent illustrations feature on Saving Stella: A Dog's Dramatic Escape from War by Bassel Abou Fakher and Deborah Blumenthal.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Most F1 world titles
7 — Michael Schumacher (1994, ’95, 2000, ’01 ’02, ’03, ’04)
7 — Lewis Hamilton (2008, ’14,’15, ’17, ’18, ’19, ’20)
5 — Juan Manuel Fangio (1951, ’54, ’55, ’56, ’57)
4 — Alain Prost (1985, ’86, ’89, ’93)
4 — Sebastian Vettel (2010, ’11, ’12, ’13)
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Spare
Profile
Company name: Spare
Started: March 2018
Co-founders: Dalal Alrayes and Saurabh Shah
Based: UAE
Sector: FinTech
Investment: Own savings. Going for first round of fund-raising in March 2019
Pad Man
Dir: R Balki
Starring: Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor, Radhika Apte
Three-and-a-half stars
Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Kanye%20West
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
match info
Manchester United 3 (Martial 7', 44', 74')
Sheffield United 0
