A history-focused Whatsapp group I belong to recently had a discussion which elicited numerous suggestions about fictional works set on the Arabian Peninsula. I am including the works mentioned below along with some texts I have taught in my literature classes and/ or used for my research.
Anthologies
Akers, Deborah and Abubaker Bagader, eds. and trans. 2008. Oranges in the Sun: Short Stories from the Arabian Gulf. London: Lynne Rienner.
Jayyusi, Salma Khadra, ed. 1988. The Literature of Modern Arabia: An Anthology. London: Kegan Paul International.
Michalak-Pikulska, Barbara. 2016. Modern Literature of the Gulf. Bern: Peter Lang GmbH.
Pedagogy
Heble, Ayesha. 2007. “Teaching Literature On-line to Arab students: Using Technology to Overcome Cultural Restrictions.” Arts and Humanities in Higher Education 6.2: 219-226.
Michalak-Pikulska, Barbara. 2006. “The Mosaic of Quotations and the Labyrinth of Interpretations: The Problems of Intertextuality in the Modern Literature of the Gulf.” Intertextuality in Modern Arabic Literature since 1967. 187-200.
Ramsey, Gail. 2006. “The Past in the Present: Aspects of Intertextuality in Modern Literature in the Gulf.” Intertextuality in Modern Arabic Literature since 1967. 161-86.
—. 2004. “Confining the Guest Labourers to the Realm of the Subaltern in Modern Literature from the Gulf. Orientalia Succana, 53: 133-42.
Webb, Allen. 2012. Teaching the Literature of Today’s Middle East. London: Routledg
Short stories/ novels
‘Abd al-Majd / Abde Meguid, Ibrahim. The Other Place.
Algosaibi, Ghazi. An Apartment Called Freedom.
Alshammari, Shahd. Notes on the Flesh.
Wilson, G. Willow. 2012. Alif the Unseen. New York, Grove Press.
Oman
Al-Farsi, Abdulaziz. 2013. Earth Weeps, Saturn Laughs: A Modern Omani Novel. Trans. Nancy Roberts. Cairo: American University of Cairo Press.
Al-Harthi, Jokha. Celestial Bodies
Hamed, Huda. I Saw Her in my Dreams.
Michalak-Pikulska, Barbara. 2002. Modern Poetry and Prose of Oman. Krakow: The Enigma Press.
UAE
Al‑Murr, M. 1998. “The Wink of the Mona Lisa” and Other Stories from the Gulf. J. Briggs, trans. Dubai: United Arab Emirates: Motivate Publishing.
—. 2008. Dubai Tales. P. Clark and J. Briggs, trans. Dubai: Motivate Publishing.
Al-Suwaidi, Thani. The Diesel.
Johnson-Davies, Denys, ed. 2009. In a Fertile Desert: Modern Writing from the United Arab Emirates. Cairo: The American University in Cairo Press.
Krishnadas. 2007. Dubai Puzha.
Michalak-Pikulska, Barbara. 2012. Modern Literature of the United Arab Emirates. Krakow: Jagiellonian University Press.
Unnikrishnan, Deepak. Temporary People.
Kuwait
Abulhawa, Susan. 2020. Against the Loveless World.
Al-Nakib, Mai. 2022. An Unlasting Home.
Alsanousi, Saud. The Bamboo Stalk.
Saudi
Aima, Rahel. Moon Rose – short story https://www.eflux.com/architecture/cascades/400332/moon-rose/
Al-Khamis, Omaima Abdullah. Al-Bahriyat.
al-Sanea, Rajaa. Girls of Riyadh.
Alireza, Marianne. 2002. At the Drop of a Veil.
Alwan, Mohammed. 1988. “Love and Rain” in The Literature of Modern Arabia: An Anthology. Ed. Salma Khadra Jayyusi. London: Kegan Paul International. 302-306.
Benyamin. Goat Days.
Ferraris, Zoe. Finding Noof. 2008. New York: Little Brown, 2012. (also Kingdom of Strangers and City of Veils)
Munif, Abdul Rahman. Cities of Salt.
Yemen
‘Abd al-Wali, Mohammad. They Die Strangers.
Ba-Amer, Salih. 1988. “Dancing by the Light of the Moon,” in The Literature of Modern Arabia: An Anthology. S. K. Jayyusi, ed. London: Kegan Paul International. 318-22.
Bajaber, Khadija Abdalla. 2021. House of Rust.
Dammaj, Zayd Mutee’. The Hostage.
Hunter, Barry Stewart Hunter. 2017. Aden.
Fairy/ Folk Tales
Al Taie, Hatim and Joan Pickersgill. 2008. Omani Folk Tales. Muscat, Oman: Al Roya Press and Publishing House.
Al Thahab, Khadija bint Alawi. 2012. Stories of My Grandmother. [Dhofari] Trans. W. Scott Chahanovich. Washington, D.C: Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center.
ElMahi, Ali Tigani and Ahmed Mohamed al Khatheri. 2015. “A Folk Story from Dhofar: A Pathway to Indigenous Knowledge.” Journal of Arts and Social Sciences 6.2: 5-12. DOI:10.24200/jass.vol6iss2
Hamad, Abdulsalam. Omani Folk Tales. 2006. Seeb: Al-Dhamri Bookshop.
Johnstone, T.M. 1974. “Folklore and Folk Literature in Oman and Socotra.” Arabian Studies 1: 7-24.
Johnstone, T.M. 1978. “A St. George of Dhofar.” Arabian Studies 4: 59-65.
Johnstone, T. M. 1983.“Folk-Tales and Folk-lore of Dhofar.” Journal of Oman Studies 6.1: 123-127.
Mershen, Birgit. 2004. “Ibn Muqaarab and Naynuh: A Folk-tale from Tiwi.” Journal of Oman Studies 13: 91-97.
Paine, Patty, Jesse Ulmer and Michael Hersrud, eds. 2013. The Donkey Lady and Other Tales from the Arabian Gulf. Highclere, Berkshire: Berkshire Academic Press.
Todino-Gonguet, Grace. 2008. Halimah and the Snake, and other Omani Folk Tales. London: Stacey International.
Also of interest
The Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation [https://www.banipaltrust.org.uk/prize/ ]
Banipal Magazine [ https://www.banipal.co.uk/ ] which has special issues on specific countries, for example: Yemen [ https://www.banipal.co.uk/back_issues/73/issue-36/ ]
Teaching Literature and Staying au courant – The Man from Nowhere and the Ancient Greeks
Reflections/ Research on Teaching Cultural Studies and Literature
Come From Away 
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