[HIGHLIGHTS] A watery tale that quenches the thirst of readers. Omani Zahran Al Qasimi's "Westernization of the Unbeliever" wins the International Prize for Arabic Fiction

The novel "The Westernization of the Unbeliever" by Omani author Zahran Al Qasimi, 49, won the 16th International Prize for Arabic Fiction on Sunday evening. A total of 124 novels were nominated for the prize, 16 of which were longlisted in January and only 6 shortlisted on March.

Each novel shortlisted received $10,50, while the winning novel received $<>,<> in addition to its English translation. The events of the novel take place in an Omani village and tell the story of Salem bin Abdullah, one of the water trackers.