The prize, which aims at rewarding excellence in Arabic creative writing, was launched in Abu Dhabi in 2007. Apart the $10,000 that awarded to each finalist, and the $50,000 awarded to the winner, the prize also supports translation.

The winner will be announced in a ceremony in Abu Dhabi, prior to the book fair which is scheduled from April 24th-May 5th.

Translation rights to The Frightened have been acquired by Harvill-Secker (UK, WEL), Knopf (USA), Gallimard (France), Signatuur (Netherlands), Norstedts (Sweden), Blessing Random House (Germany), Baldini & Castoldi (Italy), and Mevsimler (Turkey).

For more information on The Second Dog War, visit the book’s page.

Below is a list of all 6 finalists.

Amir Tag Elsir, Flowers in Flames (Sudan), Dar Al Saqi – Lebanon
Aziz Mohammed, The Critical Case of “K” (Saudi Arabia), Dar Tanweer -Lebanon
Ibrahim Nasrallah, The Second Dog War (Palestine/Jordan), Arab Scientific Publishers – Lebanon
Shahad Al Rawi, Baghdad Clock (Iraq), Dar al-Hikma – UK
Walid Shurafa, Heir of the Tombstones (Palestine), Al Ahlia – Jordan
Dima Wannous, The Frightened (Syria), Dar al-Adab – Lebanon