Cities of Salt by Saudi novelist Abdelrahman Munif is a five-part epic hailed as one of the greatest Arabic novels. Praised by critics from Edward Said to the Chicago Tribune, it captures the upheaval in Bedouin life brought by the discovery of oil, tracing sudden wealth, cultural disruption, and lasting transformation.

Abdul Rahman bin Ibrahim al-Munif, also known as Abdelrahman Munif, was a novelist, short story writer, memoirist, journalist, thinker, and cultural critic. He is considered one of the most significant authors in the Arabic language of the 20th century.

His novels include strong political elements as well as mockeries of the Middle Eastern elite classes. He is best known for Cities of Salt, a quintet of novels about how the discovery of oil transformed a traditional Bedouin culture. Munif's work offended the rulers of Saudi Arabia, which led to the banning of many of his books and the revocation of his Saudi Arabian citizenship.