13 Books by Arab Authors to Add to Your Reading List

Making time for a good book can be the quiet act of self-care we all need, and Arab authors are leading the charge with can’t-put-them-down plots

Contemporary Middle Eastern literature blossoms at the intersection of tradition and modernity, drawing upon the linage of heritage Arabic literature and poetry and sweeping it into the present day. Storylines tend to reflect the region’s complexity, with authors delving into rich cultural tapestries, exploring themes of identity, diaspora, and societal change, resulting in the creation of a vibrant literary landscape that resonates globally.

From fantastical fiction and poetry to bold debuts and sweeping sagas, these titles by MENA authors are the great reads you should be delving into in 2026.

When Ground Shifts by HE Reem Al Hashimy

A quiet yet powerful reflection on transformation, When the Ground Shifts by HE Reem Al Hashimy is written with clarity and restraint. Through poetry and reflective prose, it explores moments of uncertainty, inner strength, and personal evolution. Drawing from lived experience in the UAE public service, the book explores how resilience is built through patience and discipline, speaking to the quiet work of staying grounded when roles evolve and decisions carry heavy weight.

The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience by Plestia Alaqad

An intimate diary of everyday life, fear, hope, and endurance, The Eyes of Gaza: A Diary of Resilience was written from within Gaza, by Plestia Alaqad. Through personal observations and emotional honesty, Alaqad documents moments of loss alongside acts of quiet strength and humanity. The author’s voice is intimate yet resolute, offering a powerful account of resilience, survival and the emotional weight of witnessing history as it unfolds.

This Thing Called Love by Alawiya Sobh

Bold and emotionally charged novel, This Thing Called Love by Alawiya Sobh, explores love in all its complexity – desire, longing, repression, and vulnerability, through the inner lives of women. Written with striking honest and lyrical intensity, the book gives voice to emotions often left unspoken, specifically within intimate and social boundaries shaped by tradition.

House to House by Shamma Al Bastaki

House to House by Shamma Al Bastaki is a poetry collection that moves through memory, place, and belonging. Rooted in the landscapes of home, both physical and emotional, the poems trace transitions between spaces, generations, and identities within the UAE, capturing what it means to carry fragments of the past while moving forward.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami

In her latest novel, Lalami – already celebrated for her sharp explorations of migration, identity, and belonging – sets her story in a hotel that becomes a microcosm of modern society. Through its transient guests and permanent staff, the novel deftly examines privilege, longing, and displacement. With her signature elegance, Lalami blurs the line between dream and reality, creating a narrative as inviting as it is unsettling.

All The Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman

At once sharp, funny, and deeply uncomfortable, Harman’s debut is a fearless satire on motherhood and social performance. Following a woman’s uneasy initiation into the world of school-gate politics and parental cliques, the novel is both bitingly observant and devastatingly humane. Harman’s voice is refreshingly candid, making this book impossible to put down.

Dust Settles North by Deena ElGenaidi

A haunting meditation on memory, exile, and survival, ElGenaidi’s prose drifts between past and present, between the intimacy of family life and the vast expanse of history. Written with lyrical restraint, the novel illuminates the ways in which displacement shapes identity across generations. A perfect read for those seeking something poetic yet piercing.

The Dissenters by Youssef Rakha

One of Egypt’s most daring literary figures, Rakha returns with a novel that feels as explosive as it is erudite. A story of rebellion, art, and philosophy, The Dissenters captures the anxieties of a generation caught between authoritarianism and modernity. With his kaleidoscopic style, Rakha offers a work that is equal parts satire, manifesto, and fever dream.

Honey Hunger by Zahran Alqasmi

Winner of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction, Omani writer Alqasmi’s Honey Hunger weaves folklore, ecology, and human desire into a novel that is unlike anything else on the list. Through the lens of honey-hunting communities, the book probes the fragile relationship between people and nature, revealing both sweetness and sting.

On The Greenwich Line by Shady Lewis

Moving between Cairo and London, Lewis crafts a story that is both deeply personal and quietly political. Following an Egyptian migrant navigating life in the UK, the novel blends humour and melancholy, exposing the contradictions of assimilation and alienation. It’s a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar

Known for her lyrical speculative fiction, El-Mohtar delivers a collection that feels like myth and memory entwined. The River Has Roots draws on Arab folklore and elemental imagery to create stories that feel both timeless and urgent. Reading it in December feels like being wrapped in a dreamscape: immersive, magical, and utterly captivating.

Sleep Phase by Mohamed Khair

A cerebral, genre-bending novel that unfolds at the edge of wakefulness, Sleep Phase interrogates reality, technology, and the subconscious. Egyptian author, Khair, crafts a world that feels uncanny yet familiar, as if lifted from the edge of a dream. It’s a bold work that rewards slow, thoughtful reading.

The Persians by Sanam Mohloudji

Spanning centuries and continents, Mahloudji’s sweeping family epic traces the lives of a Persian dynasty scattered by revolution and migration. With exquisite attention to detail and a cinematic sense of place, The Persians is a work of historical fiction that doubles as a meditation on memory, loss, and the resilience of culture.