From manuscript to world stage: the writers reshaping global letters
Five years of nurturing emerging voices from the UAE and region has yielded a remarkable harvest. As the Emirates Literature Foundation's First Chapter fellowship marks this milestone with the publication of Saba Brelvi's debut novel, a new generation of authors is claiming their place on the international literary stage.
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The trajectory from aspiring writer to published author remains one of the literary world’s most elusive paths. The Emirates Literature Foundation, in partnership with Seddiqi Holding, has spent five years dismantling the barriers that traditionally separate emerging talent from international recognition. First Chapter, the ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship, represents a considered and deliberate investment in voices from the UAE and the wider region, pairing mentorship of genuine substance with access to the publishing industry’s gatekeepers.
The launch of Saba Brelvi’s debut novel, The Squatters, marks a significant threshold for the programme. Brelvi, who participated in the second cohort, has had her work accepted by Dial Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, with representation from Writers House in New York. Her novel engages with the refugee crisis in the United Kingdom, following two families whose lives intersect, offering what has been described as a provocative meditation on motherhood, migration and the distance between identity and aspiration.
Brelvi’s success represents not an exception but rather an emerging pattern. Sara Hamdan, from the programme’s inaugural cohort, secured representation with United Talent and saw her debut novel, What Will People Think, published by Holt. A second novel is scheduled for publication in August 2027, with additional projects in development. Shylin Sam has been signed by Azantian in the United States and Mushens in the United Kingdom for her novel, There’s Something About The Girls, forthcoming from Gallery Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, in spring 2028. Raed Bou Ajram recently signed with UK literary agent Luigi Bonomi.
The programme’s impact extends beyond book contracts into the broader landscape of literary recognition. Sharon Aruparayil won the Asia category of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in 2026 for her story, Mehendi Nights. Kamand Kojouri has had a short story, Red Mulberries, commissioned by BBC Radio 4, scheduled for broadcast in November 2026 as part of the Short Works programme. The work of Yi Hwa Hanna has appeared in Sorbet magazine, whilst Sangeetha Sagar’s stories feature in The Manchester Anthology.
A defining aspect of the fellowship’s approach lies in its commitment to nurturing writers in both Arabic and English. The Foundation champions Arabic language storytelling with particular vigour, recognising that literary voices from the region possess distinct narratives and perspectives essential to the global conversation. Since the programme’s inception, applications from Arabic language writers have increased substantially, with fellows such as Ali Al Shaali and Alaa Maasarani advancing their work towards wider readership.
The Fellowship’s sixth cycle now launches, suggesting that these are not isolated successes but rather the early fruits of a sustained commitment to homegrown literary talent. In an industry where lead times often stretch two to three years between acquisition and publication, the emerging achievements across the programme’s alumni signal the enduring power of patient, expert investment in writers of genuine merit and vision.
Imagery courtesy of Emirates Literature Foundation.
