Awards & Honors
Shortlisted by Banipal for the 2024 Saif Ghobash Banipal Prize for Arabic Literary Translation: Lost in Mecca by Bothayna Al-Essa
Named by World Literature Today as a Notable Translation in 2024: Lost in Mecca by Bothayna Al-Essa
Nominated by No Contact for Pushcart Prize, 2021: "Poem to be Read from Right to Left"
Nominated by One Jacar for Best of the Net 2021: "Every Day is a Celebration Worthy of Fireworks"
Finalist, No Contact’s Summer Poetry Contest, 2021: “Poem to be Read from Right to Left”
Finalist, Lucie Photo Book Award’s Independent Prize, Sep 2019: Women of Kuwait
Arab Woman Award, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, 2018: “Inspirational Woman”
Semi-finalist, Vine Leaves Vignette Collection Award, Apr 2016: Fountain of Youth
Winner of the Voice of Success Program, en.v earth, Oct 2012: “Every Child Deserves a Home: Zeina Al-Sultan Unveils the
Truths Behind Adoption in Kuwait”
1st Place Winner of Kuwait's national poetry slam (organized by the Jamaican Embassy in Kuwait and Taste of Jamaica), Kuwait: Oct 2010, Dec 2010, Feb 2016, and Jul 2016; 1st Runner Up: Dec 2011, Sep 2012, Apr 2014, and Jan 2015
Named by World Literature Today as a Notable Translation in 2024: Lost in Mecca by Bothayna Al-Essa
Nominated by No Contact for Pushcart Prize, 2021: "Poem to be Read from Right to Left"
Nominated by One Jacar for Best of the Net 2021: "Every Day is a Celebration Worthy of Fireworks"
Finalist, No Contact’s Summer Poetry Contest, 2021: “Poem to be Read from Right to Left”
Finalist, Lucie Photo Book Award’s Independent Prize, Sep 2019: Women of Kuwait
Arab Woman Award, Harper’s Bazaar Arabia, 2018: “Inspirational Woman”
Semi-finalist, Vine Leaves Vignette Collection Award, Apr 2016: Fountain of Youth
Winner of the Voice of Success Program, en.v earth, Oct 2012: “Every Child Deserves a Home: Zeina Al-Sultan Unveils the
Truths Behind Adoption in Kuwait”
1st Place Winner of Kuwait's national poetry slam (organized by the Jamaican Embassy in Kuwait and Taste of Jamaica), Kuwait: Oct 2010, Dec 2010, Feb 2016, and Jul 2016; 1st Runner Up: Dec 2011, Sep 2012, Apr 2014, and Jan 2015
Residencies, Grants, Fellowships, and Positions
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP): Empowering Youth Through the Performing Arts, USA, Apr 2018
MENA Salam Fellowship, World Peace Initiative Foundation (Peace In, Peace Out), Turkey, May 27–Jun 1st, 2016
Board of Trustees, Cultural Circle Prize for the Arabic Short Story (Almultaqa), 2015–2016
Iowa University’s International Writing Program, Iowa, USA, Writer in Residence, Aug 24, 2013-Nov 12, 2013
Creative Writing Program at Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, sponsored by the US Embassy in Kuwait and SABAB Theatre, Nov 4, 2012–May 26, 2013
MENA Salam Fellowship, World Peace Initiative Foundation (Peace In, Peace Out), Turkey, May 27–Jun 1st, 2016
Board of Trustees, Cultural Circle Prize for the Arabic Short Story (Almultaqa), 2015–2016
Iowa University’s International Writing Program, Iowa, USA, Writer in Residence, Aug 24, 2013-Nov 12, 2013
Creative Writing Program at Dar Al-Athar Al-Islamiyyah, sponsored by the US Embassy in Kuwait and SABAB Theatre, Nov 4, 2012–May 26, 2013