Da'irat Al-Tawabil (دَائِرَة التَّوِابَل)

This is a sensory-driven novel that explores identity and memory through the unique lens of scent. The narrative follows Sherehan, a woman born into a family of spice traders with an extraordinary ability to identify ingredients and evaluate people by their smell. The story spans three distinct timelines and locations—Abbasid-era Samarra (Iraq) in the 9th century, Dubai in the 1920s, and modern-day Duabi and Edinburgh—weaving together family secrets, the history of the spice trade, and the rapid transformation of Emirati society. The novel was recognized on the longlist for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) in 2024.

Author: Salha Obeid (صَالِحَة عُبَيْد)

She is an award-winning Emirati novelist and short story writer born in Sharjah in 1988. A graduate in Electronic Engineering from the University of Sharjah, she has become a prominent voice in contemporary Arabic literature. Her debut collection, Alzheimer’s (2010), was translated into German, and she has since published several acclaimed works, including Maybe It’s a Joke and iPad: Life in the Manner of Zorba. She is a member of the board for the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and has received prestigious honors such as the Al Owais Award for Creative Writing.