Wajdi al-Ahdal is a Yemeni novelist, short story writer, and playwright. He was born near Bajil in the province of Hadida and studied at the University of Sanaa. Ahdal has published four novels, four collections of short stories, a play, and a screenplay, including Qawarib Jabaliya (Mountain Boats), The Quarantine Philosopher (nominated for the Arab Booker Prize in 2008) and A Land Without Jasmine.