Doha: The Katara Cultural Village Foundation in Qatar has unveiled the shortlist for the 12th edition of the Katara Prize for Arabic Fiction, attracting a record-breaking 2,610 entries across its six categories since its inception in 2014. This year’s shortlist includes 45 novels and 9 critical studies, showcasing a wide array of talent from across the Arabic-speaking world.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the competition categories span published novels, unpublished novels, unpublished young adult novels, unpublished historical novels, published Qatari novels, and unpublished critical studies. In the category of unpublished novels, nine works are vying for recognition, including ‘Funeral Music in the Home of the Elderly’ by Egyptian Ibrahim Nagati and ‘Throne of the Wind’ by Tunisian Hassan Salmi. Other notable entries include ‘We May Meet’ by Algerian Sarah Selti and ‘City of the Past’ by Syrian Samer Muhammad Ismail.

The shortlist for unpublished historical novels features titles such as “The Origins of Hunger” by Egyptian Ahmed Amer and “Jaber Ibn Hayyan” by Yemeni Ahmed Mohammed Al-Mahfali. Additional entries include “When the World Goes Dark” by Egyptian Ahmed Mohammed Abu Al-Naga and “When the Survivor Spoke Between the Two Banks” by Algerian Bashir Touhami.

In the category of unpublished young adult fiction, nine works have made the shortlist. These include “The Aunt” by Egyptian Iman Morsi and “Wings Breaking the Darkness” by Algerian Jelloul Rafik. Other notable mentions are “The Tailor of Tolga” by Algerian Khadija Telli and “Scheherazade in the Land of the Cuckoo” by Algerian Mohamed Dadi Addoun.