Sharifah Alhinai is a distinguished journalist specializing in literature, art, and the narratives of womanhood in the Arab world, and cultural critic. Her opinion columns, feature articles, and analytical essays, have been published by world-leading media outlets and think tanks, including National Geographic and BBC, as well as the Middle East Institute, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and the Arab Gulf States Institute, in Washington D.C.
A trusted interlocutor, Alhinai has engaged in in-depth conversations with leading global thinkers and literary figures. Her portfolio includes Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah; International Booker Prize winner Marilyn Booth; and International Prize for Arabic Fiction winners Saud Al Sanousi and Hoda Barakat. Her profile pieces have further spotlighted the vital voices of contemporary authors Bothayna Al Essa, Layla Al Ammar, Bushra Khalfan, Shahd Al Shammari, and Huda Hamed. Complementing her literary work, she has profiled cultural leaders such as pioneering Omani artist Anwar Sonya and His Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh, Advisor to the President of the UAE and renowned art collector.
Reflecting the depth of her critical insight, Alhinai’s interview with Layla Al Ammar was selected for publication in the latest edition of the novel Silence Is A Sense (Algonquin Books 2022), and her cover story for National Geographic won the Best Edit Award in 2022. Two years before, she was recognized as the Arab Woman of the Year for her work in the media.
