In a world where skyscrapers rise from ancient sands and traditions echo beneath the rhythm of modern life, few voices capture the soul of the Emirates as poignantly as Mohsen Fallahian. A novelist, essayist, and advocate for Arabic literature, Fallahian stands at the crossroads of heritage and innovation, translating the heart of Emirati identity into lyrical prose that resonates far beyond the Gulf.
Born in 1985 in Dubai to a family of Arab-Persian descent, Mohsen was immersed in a multicultural atmosphere that would shape his literary voice. “Stories were everywhere,” he recalls. “In the call to prayer, in the market chatter, in my grandmother’s folktales.” These early influences blossomed into a lifelong passion for storytelling.
After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from Zayed University and a Master’s in Arabic Literature from UAE University in Al Ain, Mohsen’s literary journey took flight. His early career as a journalist for Al Khaleej Gazette sharpened his eye for cultural nuance. Covering literary events and interviewing authors across the region, he began to see a gap in how Emirati stories were told—and who was telling them.
That gap became his mission.
His debut novel, Mirage of the Sandstorm, follows a young poet struggling with ambition, identity, and love in a rapidly modernizing Dubai. Critics praised it for its intimate portrayal of urban life infused with poetic depth. “It felt like reading a love letter to the old and new Dubai,” one reviewer wrote. With its success, Fallahian became a voice to watch in the Gulf’s literary renaissance.
But it was The Silent Minaret, his second novel, that solidified his status as a literary craftsman. Set in 19th-century Abu Dhabi, the story follows a scholar who challenges authority through knowledge and reflection. Rich in historical detail and philosophical undertones, the novel explores themes of faith, power, and resistance—offering a subtle critique of past and present without sacrificing cultural reverence.
His most recent work, Whispers Beneath the Palm Trees, departs from fiction into memoir. Blending personal reflections with the oral storytelling traditions of the UAE, Fallahian meditates on creativity, loss, and the quiet wisdom of the desert. “It’s a book that breathes,” one fellow writer noted. “You don’t read it—you listen to it.”
Beyond the page, Mohsen is deeply involved in nurturing the next generation of Emirati writers. As a creative writing instructor at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library and host of the podcast Tales from the Gulf, he shares his insights on craft, heritage, and the evolving landscape of Arabic literature. His workshops are not just about writing—they are about reclaiming voice and identity.
A coffee connoisseur and calligraphy enthusiast, Fallahian is often found at literary cafés like Alserkal Avenue’s Book Café, scribbling in notebooks or discussing manuscripts with aspiring writers over steaming cups of gahwa. “It’s in these quiet moments,” he says, “that stories begin.”
Recognized with accolades like the Emirates Writers Award and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Emerging Author, Mohsen Fallahian continues to inspire through both his words and his actions. But for him, awards are secondary. “My true reward,” he says, “is when a young Emirati sees themselves in my story—and starts writing their own.”
In a region where tradition and transformation dance side by side, Mohsen Fallahian is the scribe who listens to the whispers—and writes them down for the world to hear.
Also Read:
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