Emirates Literature Foundation explores Arab comics

Comics and graphic novels are a storytelling powerhouse, blending text and illustration in a way that immerses readers like no other medium can. Yet, despite their ability to captivate and challenge perspectives, they’re still too often dismissed as “not real literature.”

With Middle East Film & Comic Con approaching this April, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the power of visual storytelling. Far from being a lesser art form, comics are both a gateway to reading and a genre that stands strong on its own, delivering narratives that are just as rich, complex, and impactful as traditional prose.

Ahlam Bolooki, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Literature Foundation, remarks: “Comics and graphic novels aren’t just about superheroes. They’re a dynamic storytelling medium, just as rich and impactful as prose, and just as effortlessly versatile, which is why they're such a powerful tool for social commentary. It’s for this reason that comic art is emerging as a viable medium not just in the West and the Far East, but here in the Arab world.

"From Egypt and Lebanon to the UAE, it’s wonderful to see authors grappling with nuanced experiences across the region through such a bold and innovative art form.”

For those wanting to dip their toes into this varied medium, here are a few of the best titles published in recent years by local authors and illustrators – outside of the Marvel and DC universes:

Shubeik Lubeik, written and illustrated by Deena Mohamed

In a world where wishes of varying degrees of power can be bought and sold, three separate, but interlinked, stories begin to unfold, exploring the hidden dangers of getting everything you ever hoped for.

With fluid storytelling, tongue-in-cheek humour, and expressive art, Mohamed displays an effortless mastery of the form. No surprise, then, that the online series turned into a published trilogy (in Arabic) and single title (English, translated by Mohamed herself).

The Egyptian comic creator earned multiple awards and rave reviews — including Winner of the Best Graphic Novel and the Grand Prix of the Cairo Comix Festival, the Warwick Prize for Women in Translation, Eisner Award and Hugo Award nominations and places on several End of Year “Best of” lists.

Raiiken by Mo Abedin

Combining Japanese and Roman mythology, Raiiken follows a boy prophesied to be the destroyer of all worlds in a quest to become the saviour of all mankind.

An epic saga of trust, the Emirati storyteller’s rich character development has been a work-in-progress since Abedin was 15 – and has gained a huge international following over the years.

It Won’t Always Be Like This, written and illustrated by Malaka Gharib

While Gharib’s first graphic memoir explores her experience of growing up in America while also half-Filipino and half-Egyptian, her second novel hones in on the summers she spent in Egypt.

This more specialised focus allows Gharib to use her loose cartoonist style to dig deeper into what it means to belong both to a family and a wider culture, all without sacrificing any of her signature sense of humour and heart.

Squire, written by Nadia Shammas and illustrated by Sara Alfageeh

A young girl signs up to become a knight, only to discover that the stories she’s been told about the war-torn empire she lives in may not be entirely true. Set in an alternate Middle Eastern and North African fantasy setting, Shammas and Alfageeh have created an expansive world reminiscent of Avatar the Last Airbender — right down to the plucky cast of teenage characters. Shammas’ writing draws on complex themes, while Alfageeh’s dynamic art style lends a sweeping, timeless feel to every panel and spread.

About the Emirates Literature Foundation:

The Emirates Literature Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which supports and nurtures a love of literature in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through a programme of varied cultural initiatives. Established in 2013 by Royal Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation aims to foster a love for literature, with a focus on the Arabic language.

In line with the National Reading Policy of the UAE, the Foundation has implemented several long-term projects including the First Chapter, the School Librarian of the Year Award, Kateb Maktub, and From the Inside Out, as well as conducting year-round student education programmes, book clubs and mentorship programmes.

The Foundation’s previous initiatives included the 2020 International Literary Festivals Conference, the 2017 Dubai International Publishing Conference and the 2016 Dubai Translation Conference.

The Foundation is in official relations with UNESCO and is also the governing body of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the UAE’s premier literary festival.