The 21st edition of the Sharjah Narrative Forum concluded its two-day programme in Egypt, held under the theme “The Novel and Artificial Intelligence” and featuring the participation of more than 60 writers, critics, and academics from Egypt and across the Arab world.
Organised under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the forum serves as a platform for critical exploration of narrative in all its creative forms.
The closing ceremony took place at the Supreme Council of Culture in Cairo, attended by Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of Sharjah’s Department of Culture; Dr. Ashraf Al-Azzazi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Culture; Mohamed Ibrahim Al Qusair, Director of Cultural Affairs and Forum Director; and Hussein Al-Qabbahi, Director of Luxor Poetry House, along with a distinguished gathering of academics and specialists. Participants were presented with certificates of appreciation in recognition of their contributions and to encourage further creative engagement.
The final day addressed the second, third, and fourth themes, alongside a session of testimonies by participating creators. The second theme, titled “Will Artificial Intelligence Create New Narrative Elements?”.
The third theme focused on “Artificial Intelligence and Its Impact on the Disintegration of the Human Condition in the Novel”.
The fourth theme explored challenges facing writing in the age of artificial intelligence, under the title “Will the Novel Disappear or Remain a Chronicle of Humanity and Place?”.
The programme concluded with a testimonies session, where participating authors reflected on their personal experiences in narrative writing, reaffirming the enduring role of the novel as a voice for the human condition and the inner self.
(Inputs from WAM)
