Larissa Bender is a literary translator from Arabic, journalist, lecturer in Arabic and German, moderator and workshop leader. For many years she has introduced contemporary Arabic literature to German-speaking readers and is regarded as one of the leading translators in her field.

In 2018 she received the Federal Cross of Merit for her commitment to building bridges with the Arab world. In 2025 she was awarded the Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding by the State of Qatar.