This winners of First Chapter 2026, the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship, had been introduced right now on the Emirates Airline Competition of Literature.
The fellowship pairs debut writers with internationally printed authors and is open to writers engaged on their first novel in both Arabic or English. Ten winners had been chosen from 120 candidates, with the bulletins made by 5 of the programme’s mentors who’re collaborating on this yr’s Emirates LitFest.
The authors mentoring the 2026 cohort are Ali Sparkes, Alwyn Hamilton, Annabel Kantaria, Greg Mosse, Iman Humaydan, Jalal Barjas, Leila Aboulela, Renée Ahdieh, Shahla al Ujaily and Sona Charaipotra
The winners are:
Ahmad Al Suh chosen by Jalal Barjas
Katherine Wealthy chosen by Ali Sparks
Hashem Al Sayed Ahmad chosen by Dr Shahla Al Ujaily
Jennah Fakhouri chosen by Sona Charaipotra
Kamand Koujouri chosen by Greg Mosse
Mehr Shafiei chosen by Renée Ahdieh
Nadine Bakhos chosen by Iman Humaydin
Raed Bou Ajram chosen Annabel Kantaria
Shahd Thani chosen by Leila Aboulela
Zainab Ahmed chosen by Alwyn Hamilton
As the one global-standard mentorship programme within the area for aspiring writers of fiction, acceptance on the programme could possibly be step one in direction of successful a world publishing deal.
The programme has been made attainable because of the help of Seddiqi Holding, who initially agreed to sponsor the programme for 5 years. Up to now, 4 alumni have now secured publishing offers, with extra within the pipeline.
“We’re grateful to Seddiqi Holding for offering the visionary spine of the fellowship and for partnering with us to assist writers flip ambition into achievement. The programme is cultivating a powerful cohort of UAE-based authors with international attain, and the outcomes have been phenomenal,” mentioned Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Basis and Competition Director of the Emirates Airline Competition of Literature. “Our writers profit enormously from the generosity and experience of the authors who mentor them or lead workshops to assist refine their craft.”
The graduates of the programme who’ve gained publishing offers embody Sara Hamdan, who gained a serious two-book take care of US writer Holt. Her novel, What Will Folks Assume was printed in Might 2025. Saba Brelvi, from yr two, can have her novel, The Squatters printed by The Dial Press, an imprint of Penguin Random Home, this yr. Ali Al Shaali and Alaa Maasarani have each had their books printed in Arabic.
“Witnessing the rising attraction and success of the programme additional reinforces the significance of the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship. We at Seddiqi Holding are extraordinarily happy with the earlier cohorts and all that they’ve achieved, fuelled by the experience of the Emirates Literature Basis and mentors over time. As we sit up for the way forward for the programme, we stay dedicated to nurturing and supporting aspiring writers and pioneering new experiences that may proceed to counterpoint their craft,” mentioned Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chief Advertising and marketing and Communications Officer, Seddiqi Holding.
Along with six hours of one-to-one mentorship from their mentor, the fellows participate in an everyday collection of workshops led by resident mentor Annabel Kantaria, together with meetups and talks from authors and consultants spanning the entire of the business and encompassing all levels of writing, publishing and selling a ebook. The programme additionally offers introductions to worldwide brokers, editors and publishers and entry to brief writing lessons from worldwide accomplice writing establishments. Every year the group undertakes a discipline journey, with earlier teams visiting the Gotham Writers Centre in New York and the Faber Academy and Curtis Brown Inventive in London to take lessons and meet literary brokers.
Extra details about the Emirates Literature Basis will be discovered on-line and year-round information of #ELFDubai on LinkedIn, Fb, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
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