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Shahad Al Rawi was born in Baghdad in Iraq in 1986. She later moved to Syria, before settling in Dubai. Her debut novel ‘The Baghdad Clock’ was published in 2016 and was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF). It was translated into English by Luke Leafgren in 2018. ‏Al Rawi has also won the First Book Award at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

‏Al Rawi is popular in social media and also writes for local newspapers. She was invited to TEdx Baghdad 2015 to deliver a speech on her experience in writing, her literary style and her ability to give hope to others. She was invited to many international literary events.