News DeskDubai: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature kicked off with a grand Gala Opening ceremony tonight, where the winners of the fourth edition of the First Chapter: ELF Seddiqi Writers’ Fellowship were announced. This prestigious mentorship program, designed to nurture aspiring fiction writers, offers ten winners the opportunity to work closely with internationally acclaimed authors, with the potential to secure global publishing deals.
The fellowship, a collaboration between the Emirates Literature Foundation and Seddiqi Holding, pairs the winners with renowned mentors for one-on-one coaching, workshops, and access to publishing industry experts. This year’s mentors include Ali Sparkes, Alwyn Hamilton, Annabel Kantaria, Freya North, Greg Mosse, Iman Humaydan, Jalal Barjas, Shahla Ujaily, Sona Charaipotra, and Yrsa Sigurdottir.
The 2025 winners, selected from nearly 100 applicants writing their first fiction novel in Arabic or English, are:
- Ahlam Jahaf (mentored by Jalal Barjas)
- Ellie Salkeld (mentored by Ali Sparkes)
- Habiba Tahir (mentored by Yrsa Sigurdottir)
- Huda El Waleely (mentored by Iman Humaydan)
- Rend Beiruti (mentored by Freya North)
- Sarah Madani (mentored by Annabel Kantaria)
- Shaikha Al Shamsi (mentored by Shahla Al Ujaily)
- Shalaka Paradkar (mentored by Greg Mosse)
- Shyama Krishna Kumar (mentored by Alwyn Hamilton)
- Shylin Sam (mentored by Sona Charaipotra)
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Festival Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, highlighted the program’s impact: “This Fellowship is putting the UAE’s writing scene on the global map, showcasing the incredible talent we have here. Our writers thrive thanks to the dedication of their mentors, and we are grateful to Seddiqi Holding for their support in making these dreams a reality.”
The program has already seen remarkable success, with two previous graduates securing international publishing deals. Sara Hamdan, a first-year graduate, signed a two-book deal with US publisher Holt, with her debut novel What Will People Think set for release in May 2025. Saba Brelvi, from the second cohort, will have her novel The Squatters published by The Dial Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House, following her signing with New York literary agent Alexa Stark at Writers House.
Launched in 2021, the fellowship aims to create a pool of UAE-based authors with global reach over five years. Fellows receive six hours of one-on-one mentorship, participate in workshops led by resident mentor Annabel Kantaria, and attend talks by industry experts. They also gain access to international agents, editors, and publishers, as well as short writing classes from partner institutions. Past cohorts have visited the Gotham Writers Centre in New York and the Faber Academy in London for immersive learning experiences.
Hind Abdul Hamied Seddiqi, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of Seddiqi Holding, expressed pride in the program’s achievements: “We are honored to partner with the Emirates Literature Foundation to provide a platform for talented writers in the region. As we enter another year, we remain confident this initiative will continue to inspire and support aspiring authors.”
The First Chapter Fellowship continues to be a beacon of hope for emerging writers, bridging the gap between local talent and the global literary stage.
