Join The Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation’s celebration for 20 years of awarding English translations of contemporary Arabic literature. On 19 November they will hold a free Zoom webinar at and past winners of the prize will come together to discuss the issues they face translating contemporary Arabic literature into English.

It will be moderated by fellow literary translator and Banipal trustee Samira Kawar, who will also run a Q&A session at the end.

The five past winners:
• Sarah Enany, winner of the 2021 prize for her translation of Rasha Adly’s The Girl with Braided Hair.
• Kay Heikkinen, winner of the 2020 prize for her translation of Huzama Habayeb’s Velvet .
• William Hutchins, joint winner of the 2013 prize for his translation of A Land without Jasmine by Wajdi al-Ahdal.
• Luke Leafgren, twice winner : in 2018 for Muhsin Al-Ramli’s The President’s Gardens and in 2023 for Najwa Barakat’s Mister N.
• Jonathan Wright, twice winner – jointly in 2013 for his translation of Youssef Ziedan’s Azazeel , and in 2016 for The Bamboo Stalk by Saud Alsanousi.