Celebrate Book Lovers’ Day with The Emirates Literature Foundation’s Summer Reading List
Award-winning stories from the Arab world and South Asia that are luminous, lyrical, and unforgettable
Some books don’t just tell stories – they pull you gently into other worlds. This summer, Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation, invites you to explore the quiet streets of Oman and the buzzing alleys of Cairo, with her selects of great summer reads, ahead of International Book Lovers Day on August 9. From memoirs of longing to novels full of wonder, the voices of these outstanding authors remind us that reading is not just an escape but an inlet to feeling more deeply, and experiencing the world in a new light.
Wherever this season takes you, rest, recreation, or reflection — let these stories walk beside you.
Hoda Barakat – Hind, or the Most Beautiful Woman in The World
Winner – The Sheikh Zayed Book Award (SZBA) 2025
In her latest novel, Barakat’s protagonist Hind lives with acromegaly — a condition that sets her apart from the world’s idea of beauty. With quiet power, the novel explores loneliness, resilience, and what it truly means to be seen. A thoughtful exploration of the human body, identity, and the quiet dignity found at the periphery of society.
Leila Aboulela – River Spirit
Winner – PEN Pinter Prize 2025
Step into the life of Akuany, a young girl whose fate intertwines with Sudan’s shifting terrain in the late 19th century. As colonial forces advance and uprisings swell, Akuany’s world is remade — through loss, enslavement, and the unwavering care of Yaseen, a merchant whose promise binds their lives across years of upheaval.
Hisham Matar – The Return: Fathers, Sons and the Land in Between
Winner – Pulitzer Prize for Biography 2017
The biographical tale of a son for his father lost to the Libyan regime, this memoir is a deeply emotional tribute but one that serves as a tool of reflection. Written with restrained beauty, Matar’s words ache with dignity. It is, quite simply, a masterpiece.
Jokha Al Harthi – Celestial Bodies
Winner – International Booker Prize 2019
This beautiful novel follows three sisters living in Oman as their lives gently shift between old traditions and new ways. Jokha’s writing feels like a quiet conversation — full of love, loss, and the small moments that define mankind. It’s a story about family, change, and the quiet power found in balancing the past and the future.
Deena Mohamed – Shubeik Lubeik
Winner – Grand Prize, Cairo Comix Festival
Set in a city where wishes can be bottled and sold like commodities, this graphic novel trilogy blends magic, bureaucracy, and longing. Deena’s Cairo is at once fantastical and deeply real. What sets Deena Mohamed apart is her innovating narration with intersecting story arcs and a visual design that is beautifully unique.
Moo Abedin – Raiiken
Awarded at MEFCC (Middle East Film & Comic Con)
An epic graphic tale that draws on Gulf mythology and universal heroism. Moo Abedin’s Raiiken is cinematic in scope and rich in cultural soul — a striking example of how Arab creativity is expanding across genres.
Roxi Nafousi – Manifest: 7 Steps to Living Your Best Life
Global Bestseller – Translated into 10+ Languages
Part guide, part personal reflection, Roxi’s voice is gentle and empowering. In a world that often feels uncertain, this book is like a candle lit just for you — a reminder that hope and healing are not far.
Saud Al Sanousi – The Scrolls of Mud City
Shortlisted – 2025 Sheikh Zayed Book Award
Set in pre-oil Kuwait, this epic trilogy brings to life the experiences of fishermen, traders, and visionaries during a time of great change. The story draws on myths, beliefs, and history to offer a vivid and immersive portrait of Kuwaiti society. Al Sanousi’s poetic prose is a landmark in Arabic literature that aptly captures the spirit of a nation standing at the threshold of transformation.
Mehran Gul – The New Geography of Innovation
Winner – Financial Times/McKinsey Bracken Bower Prize for writers under 35
Mehran’s insightful non-fiction explores how creativity and innovation are reshaping cities and communities around the world, with a special focus on South Asia. This book takes readers beyond the usual tech hubs to reveal surprising places where creativity and progress bloom, often against the odds. A must-read for anyone curious about the future of innovation and how it touches lives in places we might not expect.
Keshava Guha – The Tiger’s Share
Guha’s latest novel dives into family tensions and changing traditions in contemporary Delhi. When their father decides to leave his estate elsewhere, siblings Tara and Rohit must face deep questions about inheritance, gender, and loyalty. Sharp, insightful, and full of heart, it’s a powerful look at what family really means today.
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