Nadwa 2012

October 2012 saw the fourth IPAF Nadwa, or writers’ workshop, take place in Abu Dhabi. Over eight days, six promising young writers from across the Arab World participated in a workshop at the Qasr al Sarab resort, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in the Western Region.

Guided by mentors Inaam Kachachi and Amir Tag Elsir, the writers worked to each produce a new piece of creative writing. Under the mentors’ guidance, they were encouraged to meet daily to examine each other’s work and discuss broader subjects of literary interest.

Ranging from 33 to 43 years in age, the two female and four male writers came from seven countries across the Middle East: the UAE, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, Egypt and Lebanon. These authors had been identified by former IPAF judges as ‘ones to watch’.