Genre fans, rejoice! Works of grim literary realism usually dominate the lists of books translated from Arabic into English. But this fall, the options are wide and playful: an Egyptian woman's memoir of the 1970s; 18th-century Najdi satire; science fiction set in 2090s Jordan; a gritty new Moroccan detective series; two graphic novel hybrids from Egypt; and the 'Great Arabic Boxing Novel'. There are also several new translations from acclaimed Arab poets.
Arabic genre fiction wasn't always a novelty. Detective fiction was popular for much of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. For decades, Arabic versions of Miss Marple, Arsène Lupin and other fictional sleuths could be found in kiosks across the region. Yet by the late 20th century, crime writing had largely faded out of style.
Moroccan author Abdelilah Hamdouchi is one of several Arab authors reviving the genre, and, in September, Hoopoe Fiction is launching Hamdouchi's new "Detective Hanash" series with Bled Dry, translated by Benjamin Smith. The story is set in Casablanca where "an ill-fated young prostitute and her lover are killed in a gruesome double murder". Like the best of crime fiction, Hamdouchi's page-turning novels are not just whodunits, but also offer social critique.
For fans of tough, lean writing, there's Ma'n Abu Taleb's fictional debut, All The Battles, translated by Robin Moger.
The novel follows Saed, an office worker whose life is transformed by boxing. A searing examination of sport and social class, this will appeal to a wide range of readers.
Two innovative graphic novel hybrids are also out this fall. The first is Donia Maher's noir-esque The Apartment in Bab El-Louk, with art by Ganzeer and Ahmed Nady, translated by Elisabeth Jaquette. The second is Ahmed Naji's much-anticipated Using Life, with art by Ayman Al Zorkany, translated by Ben Koerber. An excerpt published in a state-run journal sparked a highly publicised trial against Naji that resulted in him being jailed for two years.
For science fiction fans, there's Fadi Zaghmout's Heaven on Earth, translated by Sawad Hussain.
The popular Jordanian blogger is best known for his forthright characters in The Bride of Amman, but here, Zaghmout heads in a different direction. This novel is set in 2090s Jordan, where ageing is reversible and reproduction strictly limited. For short-story aficionados, Banthology, ed. Sarah Cleave, will be released in October. The collection brings together seven compelling stories, one from each of the nations put under a travel ban by the United States' Trump administration.
Memoirs and novels written about the 2011 uprisings continue to appear, including Egyptian novelist Donia Kamal's Cigarette Number Seven, coming in October.
Yet with Arwa Salih's 1997 memoir, The Stillborn, we get a rare glimpse of another era. Samah Selim translated this look back at 1970s Egypt, which still has strong resonance today.
Because publishing focuses so much on the new, there has been relatively little attention given books like The Stillborn and other compelling 20th-century writing.
Haus Publishing seeks to rectify this with the launch of its "modern classics" series. The first book will be Syrian novelist Mamdouh Azzam's tragic love story Ascension to Death, translated by Max Weiss. Also in December, Haus will publish Moroccan author Abdelkrim Ghallab's classic 1966 novel We Buried the Past, translated by Roger Allen.
This fall, the Library of Arabic Literature is set to bring out another of the series' fun classics: Hmedan al-Shwe'ir's Arabian Satire. Al-Shwe'ir, who lived in the Arabian Peninsula in the early 18th century, was known for his ribald humour, self-deprecation and stinging verse, voiced in a Nabati poetic form. This bilingual, facing-paged edition was edited and translated by Marcel Kurpershoek, a research fellow at NYU Abu Dhabi.
For those interested in the peninsula, there are also two historical novels set in Saudi Arabia coming this fall. The first is prolific Jordanian author Samiha Khrais's The Tree Stump, a historical novel set around King Faisal, T E Lawrence, and the Arab revolt against the Ottomans, translated by Nesreen Akhtarkhavari. The other is by Kay Campbell, a former Jeddah-based reporter, whose charming A Caravan of Brides weaves together several periods of Saudi history.
For those ready for a new twist on Arab history, the satirical Travels of Ibn Fudayl is coming in October under the pen name "George R Sole". This novel, which masquerades as a work by a British academic who has translated a medieval manuscript, is complete with a snarky introduction and footnotes.
The book pokes fun at academia while chronicling the titular Ibn Fudayl's experiences in Al-Andalus and beyond.
For the legion of Mahmoud Darwish fans, a collection coming in September, I Don't Want This Poem to End, includes the last known work by the iconic Palestinian poet. It brings together work from his early and late years, translated by Mohammed Shaheen. There is also a moving introduction by Lebanese novelist Elias Khoury that describes how work was retrieved from Darwish's home after the poet's death in 2008.
This fall you can also expect work from the great Egyptian poet Iman Mersal. Her prose work on motherhood, How to Mend: On Motherhood and its Ghosts, will be forthcoming in Robin Moger's translation, from the Lebanese publishing initiative Kayfa ta, part of their series of unusual "how to" books. Previous books include Haytham Al-Wardani's How to Disappear, translated by Jennifer Peterson and Robin Moger and are available free on the Kayfa ta website.
Two hotly anticipated collections from young Syrian poets are also coming in October. One is Golan Haji's A Tree Whose Name I Don't Know, co-translated by Haji and the poet Stephen Watts.
Haji's poems inscribe recent Syrian history, underpinned by Kurdish mythology, imagery and folklore.
The second collection is Ghayath Almadhoun's Adrenaline. Almadhoun is also well-known for his striking poetry films.
For readers eagerly awaiting International Prize for Arabic Fiction winners, Frankenstein in Baghdad, by Ahmed Saadawi, and Destinies, by Rabai Al Madhoun, those books are set to arrive early next year.
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Read more:
Fall into a good book: autumn reads
Book world hopes for literary breakthrough in autumn
Dates for Sharjah International Book Fair confirmed
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Company%20Profile
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
More coverage from the Future Forum
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Roll of honour: Who won what in 2018/19?
West Asia Premiership: Winners – Bahrain; Runners-up – Dubai Exiles
UAE Premiership: Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins; Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons
Dubai Rugby Sevens: Winners – Dubai Hurricanes; Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE Conference: Winners – Dubai Tigers; Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
BIO
Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.
Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.
Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.
Favourite colour: Black.
Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
Europa League group stage draw
Group A: Villarreal, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Astana, Slavia Prague.
Group B: Dynamo Kiev, Young Boys, Partizan Belgrade, Skenderbeu.
Group C: Sporting Braga, Ludogorets, Hoffenheim, Istanbul Basaksehir.
Group D: AC Milan, Austria Vienna , Rijeka, AEK Athens.
Group E: Lyon, Everton, Atalanta, Apollon Limassol.
Group F: FC Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sheriff Tiraspol, FC Zlin.
Group G: Vitoria Plzen, Steaua Bucarest, Hapoel Beer-Sheva, FC Lugano.
Group H: Arsenal, BATE Borisov, Cologne, Red Star Belgrade.
Group I: Salzburg, Marseille, Vitoria Guimaraes, Konyaspor.
Group J: Athletic Bilbao, Hertha Berlin, Zorya Luhansk, Ostersund.
Group K: Lazio, Nice, Zulte Waregem, Vitesse Arnhem.
Group L: Zenit St Petersburg, Real Sociedad, Rosenborg, Vardar
'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
Zayed Sustainability Prize
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Ticket prices
General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Results:
First Test: New Zealand 30 British & Irish Lions 15
Second Test: New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
Third Test: New Zealand 15 British & Irish Lions 15
Hamilton’s 2017
Australia - 2nd; China - 1st; Bahrain - 2nd; Russia - 4th; Spain - 1st; Monaco - 7th; Canada - 1st; Azerbaijan - 5th; Austria - 4th; Britain - 1st; Hungary - 4th; Belgium - 1st; Italy - 1st; Singapore - 1st; Malaysia - 2nd; Japan - 1st; United States - 1st; Mexico - 9th
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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The Sky Is Pink
Director: Shonali Bose
Cast: Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Farhan Akhtar, Zaira Wasim, Rohit Saraf
Three stars
Disclaimer
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville
Rating: 4/5
RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
2018 ICC World Twenty20 Asian Western Sub Regional Qualifier
Event info: The tournament in Kuwait is the first phase of the qualifying process for sides from Asia for the 2020 World T20 in Australia. The UAE must finish within the top three teams out of the six at the competition to advance to the Asia regional finals. Success at regional finals would mean progression to the World T20 Qualifier.
Teams: UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Maldives, Qatar
Friday fixtures: 9.30am (UAE time) - Kuwait v Maldives, Qatar v UAE; 3pm - Saudi Arabia v Bahrain
