The Abu Dhabi-based Arab Centre for Geographic Literature – Irtiyad Al Afaq has announced the winners of the 23rd Ibn Battuta Prize for Travel Literature for 2024-2025, awarded to the finest works in travel writing, documentation, and translation.
This edition witnessed an overwhelming participation from nine Arab countries, with 43 submitted manuscripts, highlighting the growing interest in this rich and authentic literary tradition.
Poet Mohammad Ahmad Al Suwaidi, Patron of the Ibn Battuta Prize, expressed his pride in the prize’s achievements since its inception in 2000. He noted that the award has played a vital role in reviving travel literature and documenting rare texts. “This strategic cultural initiative has successfully presented a new image of Arab and Muslim travellers, highlighting their engagement with the world,” Al Suwaidi said.
Poet Nouri Al Jarrah, Director General of the Arab Centre for Geographic Literature, highlighted that this year’s winning works reflect a significant qualitative advancement in research, investigation, and translation. The award witnessed a strong presence of verified manuscripts and travel studies, alongside contemporary travel narratives and diaries, underscoring a modern trend in travel literature that emphasises human and intellectual engagement with the world rather than merely geographical descriptions.
The results saw a diverse group of researchers and writers from various Arab countries emerge as winners, with Morocco securing the largest share of awards. Additional winners hailed from Egypt, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Jordan, along with notable contributions from Palestine, Morocco and Egypt.
Edited Travel Account
Three Moroccan researchers won in the Edited Travel Accounts category: Moroccan Dr. Abdelhadi Kadioui won the Edited Travel Account category for his study and edition of “The Hachtouki Journey – Guidance of the Most Gracious King to the House of Allah”.
Moroccan Dr. Houria Rifi for “Healing of Yearning in Pilgrimage to the House of Allah and the Prophet’s Tomb”, and Mohamed Al Andaloussi for “The Meccan Journey: France – Hijaz– Algeria (1916-1917). In the same category, Egyptian researcher Taha El Shazly won the prize for his work “Touring the Lands”.
Translated Journey
In the Translated Journeys category, Jordanian researcher Issam Mohammed Al Shahadat won for his translation of “A Journey to Egypt and Syria (1783-1785)” by Constantin Volney. The Contemporary Journeys Prize was awarded to Lebanese writer Issa Makhlouf for “Paris I Lived: A Journal”, and Egyptian writer Mohammed Salem Abada for “Bohemian Conquests: Travels in Czechia, Hungary and Italy”.
In the Diaries category, Moroccan writer Mohammed El Khattabi won for “Following in Christopher Columbus’ Footsteps: A Journey to South America”; along with Saudi writer Mashaan Al Mashaan for “What I Carry with Me: Life, Travels, and Other Reflections”.
Moroccan scholars dominated the Studies category. Abdelaziz Jadir won for “The American Journey to Tangier”; Mohamed Naddam for “Moroccan Travelers and France in the Protectorate Era”, and Abderrahman Temmara for “Echoes of Sights: The Formation of Emotions in Contemporary Travel Writing”.
The prize committee also honoured three notable works including “Ascent to China: Describing Place and Human Topography” by Palestinian writer Mustafa Mohammed Basharat; “Under the Tent: Memories from the Tetouan War 1860” by Moroccan writer Soufiane Belhaj; and “From Moscow to Samarkand 1934” by Egyptian writer Ahmed Abu Diab.
The winning works will be published by Dar Souidi in collaboration with the Arab Foundation for Studies and Publishing in Beirut and Al Mutawassit publications in Milan.
The awards ceremony will take place in two venues, Rabat and Abu Dhabi, and will be accompanied by a seminar featuring the winners, jury members, and a group of Arab and foreign researchers. The seminar will explore the evolution of travel literature and its impact on Arab culture.
