Emirati author Fathia Al Nimr and critic Dr Abeer Al Hosani examine imagination, symbolism and social contradictions during a panel in Sharjah.
SHARJAH, UAE — Writers must look beyond the existing world and use imagination to question reality and explore unformed possibilities, Emirati novelist and short-story writer Fathia Al Nimr told audiences at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF 2026) on Friday.
Speaking at a session titled ‘The Questions Novels Ask, the Meanings They Hold’, Al Nimr discussed blending reality with imaginative storytelling, while literary critic Dr Abeer Al Hosani analysed the psychological depth, symbolism and social themes in Al Nimr’s short fiction.
“Even when a story is inspired by real events, imagination must have a place in it. A writer is not a camera that simply captures reality. We must also write about what does not exist, ask why and imagine how we might bring it into being,” Al Nimr said.
She explained that her work spans realistic narratives as well as stories built on dreams, symbolism and imaginative elements to examine experiences beyond daily life. Discussing her latest short-story collection, she pointed to the variety of subjects and narrative techniques across the book. She highlighted ‘The Tree and the Man with the Long Shadow’, in which a girl encounters deceased family members in a dreamlike experience to explore loss, memory and family ties.
Offering a critical reading of the collection, Dr Al Hosani examined how Al Nimr constructs complex characters within familiar social settings to probe human behaviour and internal struggles. She identified the gap between words and actions as a recurring theme, highlighting characters whose treatment of relatives contradicts their professed values.
Al Hosani detailed the collection’s engagement with sensitive social issues, including mental health, bullying, disability, discrimination against girls and injustice within families. She noted how characters’ fears, obsessions and internal conflicts shape their choices, and pointed to Al Nimr’s use of irony and dark humour to expose human weaknesses.
Rooted in Emirati social life, the stories incorporate family gatherings, mourning rituals, local expressions and domestic settings to ground the narratives. On narrative structure, Al Hosani observed that several stories open at moments of crisis before tracing earlier events, while others rely on shifting perspectives and unexpected endings to prompt readers to reassess characters’ motivations.
Organised by the Sharjah Book Authority, the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair runs from November 4 to 15 at Expo Centre Sharjah under the theme ‘Made of Stories’, with the Sultanate of Oman as Guest of Honour. The event hosts 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries, over 1.7 million titles, and 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic events featuring 106 guests from 25 countries.
