Beneath the shade of a swaying palm, where the scent of gahwa lingers and stories ripple like desert mirages, sits a man who has quietly become one of the UAE’s literary torchbearers—Mohsen Fallahian. He’s not just a writer; he’s a weaver of time, memory, and meaning. His journey through words isn’t merely a personal one—it’s a reflection of a region evolving, remembering, and reaching.
So, who is the man behind the prose? And how did a curious boy from Dubai become the pen behind the palm trees, reshaping the voice of Emirati literature?
Where the Story Begins
Born in 1985 in Dubai to a family of Arab-Persian heritage, Mohsen grew up surrounded by contrast. Skyscrapers rose alongside coral stone homes, while elders told stories of pearl divers and falconers. He was enchanted by the tales—not just their plots, but their rhythms. It was the way words carried memory that stayed with him.
That fascination led him to study Creative Writing at Zayed University, then deepen his roots with a Master’s in Arabic Literature at UAEU. While many chased trends, Mohsen chose a different path: he looked inward, into the stories of his land and his people.
Journalist. Editor. Novelist. Teacher.
Mohsen’s career is a tapestry of literary roles. He began as a cultural reporter for Al Khaleej Gazette, capturing the pulse of book fairs, poetry readings, and intellectual debates across the Emirates. He later shaped voices as an editorial consultant for The Emirates Review, and eventually as an acquisitions editor at Noor Publishing, championing local authors whose stories might’ve otherwise gone unheard.
But it was as a novelist and essayist that Mohsen found his true calling.
Books That Breathe the Gulf
Mohsen’s fiction doesn’t shout; it lingers, like the aftertaste of strong Arabic coffee—bold, complex, unforgettable.
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“Mirage of the Sandstorm” follows a young poet navigating ambition, identity, and love in modern Dubai, a city both dazzling and disorienting.
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“The Silent Minaret” transports readers to 19th-century Abu Dhabi, where a scholar dares to confront power with knowledge—a historical echo of modern resistance.
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“Whispers Beneath the Palm Trees” blends memoir and folklore, exploring what it means to remember in a society rushing forward. It’s as much about silence as it is about speech.
Each work is a love letter to the Gulf—its contradictions, its heritage, its hopes.
A Mentor with Purpose
Beyond his books, Mohsen’s impact is felt in classrooms and cafés. At the Mohammed bin Rashid Library, he teaches creative writing workshops, helping aspiring Emirati authors find their voice. In literary gatherings, he’s the thoughtful presence encouraging dialogue about identity, language, and artistic integrity.
His podcast, Tales from the Gulf, is another extension of his mission—offering a platform for Arab writers to reflect, challenge, and connect. With every episode, he pushes forward the idea that storytelling isn’t just entertainment—it’s preservation. It’s resistance. It’s truth.
Writing Between the Palm Trees
The title of this piece isn’t just poetic—it’s real. Mohsen often writes beneath date palms, in quiet corners of the Liwa Desert or by the mangroves of Ras Al Khaimah. Nature, for him, is not a backdrop—it’s a co-writer. The rustle of fronds, the soft crunch of sand, the scent of oud in the air—these find their way into his language, forming metaphors that are both intimate and expansive.
A Literary Legacy in Motion
With awards like the Emirates Writers Award and the Sheikh Zayed Book Award (Emerging Author Category) to his name, Mohsen has earned the recognition. But he remains grounded, always returning to the page, always seeking the story not yet told.
In an era of noise and haste, his writing slows us down, inviting us to reflect, to reconnect—with ourselves, with our ancestors, with the land we walk on.
Final Words: The Journey Continues
Mohsen Fallahian’s journey isn’t just a personal success story—it’s a cultural compass, pointing us toward the heart of Emirati identity through literature. Whether through a fictional minaret or a memoir whispered beneath palms, his pen continues to guide, to honor, and to awaken.
So the next time you find yourself under a palm tree, let your thoughts wander. You just might hear the soft hum of a story waiting to be told—and if you’re lucky, you’ll find that Mohsen Fallahian has already begun writing it.
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