Abdo Khal

Abdo Mohammed Khal (born 1962) is a novelist and storyteller, counted among the most prominent writers of short stories and novels in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He is the first Saudi to win the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (Booker). He has authored approximately eighteen books, spanning novels, stories, and myths, showcasing his prolific writing prowess. With a career spanning forty years, he has published over ten thousand articles since the early 1980s. His debut novel, 'Death Passes From Here', is regarded as a pioneering work that expanded the horizons and narrative possibilities of contemporary Saudi fiction.

Abdo Khal was born in the village of al-Majanah in Jazan Province. In his early years, he moved with his family to the city of Riyadh, where he completed his primary education. In 1987, he earned a bachelor's degree in political science from King Abdulaziz University. Subsequently, he joined the education sector and was appointed as a teacher while continuing his journalistic writing. He began publishing with the Okaz newspaper in 1982. Additionally, he contributed to the Jeddah Literary Club as a member and served on the editorial board of the Rawi periodical for Arabic narratives published by the club. He is also a member of the 'Hiwar' group.

Abdo Khal consistently wrote for the press, maintaining a daily column in the Okaz newspaper, where he served as the editor-in-chief. Additionally, he contributed to editing 'al-Nass al-Jadid' magazine and authored numerous articles in various local and Arab newspapers and magazines, including al-Hayat newspaper, 'Akhbar al-Adab' in Egypt, 'al-Hadath' magazine in Kuwait, 'al-Arabi' magazine in Kuwait, 'Nizwa' magazine in Oman, 'al-Hadatha' magazine in Lebanon, 'Kalimaat' magazine in Bahrain, and 'Ibdaa' magazine in Egypt.

Abdo Khal embarked on his literary journey as a storyteller. He debuted with his first short story collection, 'Dialogue at the Gate of the Earth,' in 1984. This was followed by another collection titled 'No One' in 1986. In 1988, he released 'There is Nothing Pleasing'. In 1995, Khal transitioned into the realm of novels with his inaugural work, 'Death Passes from Here.' Throughout his career, he amassed approximately seven collections of short stories.

After Abdo Khal published his first novel, he continued to write novels until 2020. Among his notable works are 'Cities Eating Grass', published in 1998, 'The Clay', published in 2002, 'The Days Hide No One', published in 2003, and the novel 'Fusuq' (Depravity), published in 2005. Additionally, he authored 'Shaqshaqat' in 2014, and the books 'Hamida Said... Hijazi Legends' and 'Ajiba Said... Tuhami Legends' in 2013.

Abdo Khal's experience has become a focal point of scholarly inquiry and research, characterized by his exploration of previously unaddressed human and societal issues. In 2010, he was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize for his novel 'Throwing Sparks,' a poignant example of Arabic realism delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche. His subsequent work, 'The Anguish of the Seductress,' earned him the Ministry of Culture and Media (now the Ministry of Culture) Book Award in 2013. Honored at numerous cultural gatherings, some of Khal's works have been translated into multiple languages including English, French, and German.