What we are doing

Open Call
Deadline to apply: February 1, 2026

We are launching a new open call for published literary authors from the Arab world working in contemporary fiction who are at the final stages of a new manuscript. The program supports writers to take time out of their day jobs and daily preoccupations to focus on editing and preparing their book for publication. The program participants will receive a stipend to allow them time to complete their project, and they will additionally be offered the support of a peer to help them edit and finalize their manuscript. Once completed, Mophradat will accompany the writer in finding a publisher to print and distribute it within an agreed timeframe.

The participants will receive a monthly stipend amount that is determined by Mophradat based on the local living costs in the writer’s country of residence, while the length of the sabbatical will be determined based on the author’s needs, ranging from three to six months. The program is limited to two to three participants.

Specific Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be in the last stages of writing. A 40-page/10,000-word sample of the manuscript will be requested upon applying.
• Applicants must be from or living in the Arab world. Priority is given to those writing in Arabic and based in the Arab world.
• Applicants must be authors of creative writing. This edition, only fiction will be considered. These sabbaticals are not for academic writing, film, or journalism.
• Applicants must be published writers with at least two prior instances of publication (books, articles, essays etc.). Self-published writing is not eligible.
• Applicants must provide a letter of reference from a publisher or platform they have previously published with.
• Applicants must commit to taking a leave from their day jobs for at least three months of the sabbatical period. (For those who are selected: if employed, a letter from their place of employment must be provided, confirming the agreed time out).

Process

• All applicants, whether selected or not, will receive a response to their applications by April 30, 2026.
• Upon selection, a grant agreement will be signed between the recipient and Mophradat.
• Funds will be released in a three-stage process: 35 percent when the agreement is signed, 35 percent halfway through, upon submission of a brief progress update and the revised manuscript, and the remaining 30 percent at the end of the sabbatical period upon submission of the completed manuscript and a short narrative summary of what was achieved.
• Upon completion, a publishing contract will be signed between the recipient and the publisher.
• While the program aims for publishing the selected project, Mophradat maintains the right to decide at its own discretion whether the work is ready to be published or not.
• The grantee engages to visibly credit Mophradat for any publication of their work, and send copies of printed material to its offices.

*Please note that, due to the high volume of applications and the confidentiality of the selection process, Mophradat cannot provide individual feedback explaining the reason an application was not selected.

**By applying to this program, you agree that, if selected, you will endeavor to realize your proposal. If the proposal is not realized within the timeline agreed upon, you may be asked to partially or fully reimburse Mophradat.

*** We want to get to know you through this application process, so please be aware that we don’t want to read AI-generated answers.

Application

In order to prepare your application, you may already check out the questions here.
You can only apply by filling an online form here.
Any material sent by email will not be considered.

The Writing Sabbaticals is implemented with the support of Mophradat’s institutional partners.