Khaled Khalifa Prize for Fiction: Honoring the Creativity of Literature
September 26, 2024, 2:22 pm

Khaled Khalifa Prize for Fiction: Honoring the Creativity of Literature

خالد خليفة (الكاتب السوري الراحل)

The Khaled Khalifa Prize for Fiction is a prestigious literary award aimed at honoring the late Syrian novelist Khaled Khalifa. This award was established to celebrate the art of the novel, initiated by friends of the late writer, to immortalize his name as one of the prominent Arab novelists who inspired others and contributed to cultural values by confronting injustice and exposing its forms.

The award targets novelists who are presenting their first literary works, aiming to honor and support writers who embody the spirit of innovation, freedom of expression, and cultural depth—values that Khaled Khalifa defended throughout his literary journey.

**Application Requirements for the First Edition of the Khaled Khalifa Prize for Fiction:**

- The first edition is dedicated to Syrian writers, with the possibility of opening eligibility to holders of nationalities from Arab countries in future editions.
- The submitted work must be the first novel by the applicant.
- The applicant must hold Syrian nationality (whether Syrian or Palestinian-Syrian), or their mother must hold Syrian nationality.
- There is no specific age group limitation.
- There is no restriction on the place of residence.

**Timeline:**

- The application period opens on January 1, 2025.
- The application period closes on March 15, 2025.
- The winner will be announced in June 2025 (the exact date will be determined later).

**Application Method:**

Applications can be submitted by filling out the specified form and sending it, along with the novel in PDF format only, via the following email: apply@khaledkhalifaaward.org.

The prize includes a monetary award for the winner, along with the publication of the winning novel by a well-known publishing house, with the possibility of translation into other languages. The winner will also receive a commemorative plaque in addition to the monetary value of the prize.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”