starting "Emirates Airline Festival of Literature" With the participation of about 200 speakers from 40 countries

DUBAI, 21st JANUARY / WAM / The activities of the eighteenth edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature kicked off today in Dubai and will continue until the 27th of January, in an edition that is considered the largest and most prominent in the history of this most important cultural event in the region and comes as an extension of the success achieved by the festival over eighteen years, during which it was able to consolidate its position as a major destination on the map of global creativity, going beyond the boundaries of books to transform into a space where ideas and visions converge.

Over the course of a week full of discussion sessions, workshops and cultural events, a group of the best-selling authors in the world meet their audiences in Dubai, turning the city into a lively meeting place that brings together readers and creative people, and placing the festival in the heart of Dubai’s vibrant cultural scene.

This year, at its headquarters at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, the festival will host nearly 200 speakers from more than 40 countries, including acclaimed writers such as Wole Soyinka, Hoda Barakat, Guang Chang, Saud Al Sanousi, Oliver Jeffers, Alawiya Sobh, Ruth Weir, Izzat Al Qamhawi, Vir Das, Sultan Al Amimi, and Curtis. Jopling, Omar Tahir, Ioan Ivey, Dhay Rahmi, MC Grammer, Asma Khan, Abdul Rahman Al Himairi, Op Re Lescure, Naima Al Hosani, and Shamah Al Bastaki.

The festival’s agenda is diverse and includes more than 200 events, including inspiring discussion sessions and practical workshops, in addition to dialogues, live performances, a writers’ corner and family activities.

The festival was opened in the presence of Her Excellency Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Her Excellency Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Advisor to His Highness the President of the UAE, Supreme President of the United Arab Emirates University, Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), Her Excellency Shatha Al Mulla, Assistant Undersecretary for the National Identity and Arts Sector at the Ministry of Culture, Dr. Rafia Ghobash, founder of the Women’s Museum, and Boutros Boutros, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Branding and Corporate Communications at Emirates Airlines, Dubai. Abulhoul is the founder of the “Fikr” Foundation.

The events began with a march organized by Dubai Police with the participation of police cavalry and students from Hemaya schools. The opening ceremony, presented by Alia Al Mansouri, was designed to be a contemplative pause before the start of the festival’s rich program and extensive activities.

The ceremony included various activities, including musical performances by the National Youth String Band, Camerata, and the Repton School Choir, in addition to performances and poetry performances in which Dubai Heritage, Shamma Al Bastaki, Rachel Bright, Mahran Gul, and Dr. Afra Atiq.

Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said that since its inception, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has formed a global platform that brings together the most prominent literary and intellectual voices from the region and the world. Today, the festival is proud of its contribution over 18 years to consolidating the position of the UAE and Dubai as a major destination on the map of global intellectual creativity. We are determined to continue its mission of providing qualitative intellectual additions that enrich the cultural and creative scene in the region and the world.

She added that the festival is more than just an idea carried by the lines between the covers of a book; It is about hope and the relationships that bind us to each other, about the questions we carry, the lives we live, and the stories that help us understand them. It is for every parent teaching their child their mother tongue, for young people learning how to navigate a complex world, and for readers searching for truth in confusing times. We invite you to come, listen, read, and leave with something that will stay with you long after the festival is over.

For his part, Boutros Boutros, Executive Vice President, Marketing, Brand and Corporate Communications at Emirates Airlines, said: “We are proud of our sponsorship of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, and our continued support for its growing journey as one of the most diverse and open cultural events in Dubai. Through a rich program that addresses different age groups and cultural backgrounds, the festival continues to provide inspiring spaces for learning, interaction and entertainment, and plays a pivotal role in enriching the cultural scene in the emirate.”

The Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) supports two main axes: “Emirati,” which celebrates the best creators in the Emirates, and “Translation,” which highlights translation as a cultural bridge.

The Authority also supports a special award to celebrate Emirati literary figures whose works have inspired young people and strengthened the country’s position as a global literary center. This year, on the centenary of his birth, the festival celebrates the memory of the Emirati poet and writer Sultan bin Ali Al Owais, who formed a milestone in the cultural and economic scenes in the UAE and the Arab world.

The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of His Excellency Abdul Hamid Ahmed and His Excellency Ibrahim Al Hashemi, who received the award on behalf of Sultan Ali Al Owais, in their capacity as representatives of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.

Her Excellency Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture, stressed the importance of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and its pivotal role in highlighting the vitality and richness of the cultural movement in Dubai, as it was able to consolidate its position as a leading international platform that attracts an elite group of writers, thinkers, creators and writers from the Emirates and around the world.

She said: “The festival is one of the most important cultural events on Dubai’s agenda, and since its inception, it has succeeded in creating a wide space that brings together people of thought and literature from all over the world in Dubai to celebrate their achievements and creativity through a series of activities that contribute to enhancing dialogue between communities and contributed to highlighting a wide range of inspiring cultural models, and providing qualitative opportunities for local talents to exchange ideas, expertise and experiences, and building bridges of knowledge communication among them, which has had a positive impact on the local cultural scene.”

Badri expressed the Authority’s pride in its strategic partnership with the festival, which embodies a model of cooperation in nurturing and empowering Emirati intellectuals and those residing in the country, supporting the strength of cultural and creative industries, and consolidating Dubai’s position as a global center for the creative economy.

The festival continues to celebrate the Emirati creative imprint, which has proven its strong presence and influence, and is proud to highlight these exceptional national competencies and strengthen channels of intellectual communication between Emirati creators and thinkers and the global literary community.

The distinguished list of speakers includes an elite group of Emirati icons and figures, led by Her Excellency Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation, His Excellency Dr. Abdul Aziz Al Muslim, President of the Sharjah Heritage Institute, His Excellency Dr. Ali bin Tamim, President of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, Sheikh Sultan Saud Al Qasimi, founder of the Barjeel Arts Foundation, His Excellency Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Executive Director of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation, and Dr. Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Writers and Writers Union, and the traveler Ibrahim Al Dhahli.

An elite group of writers and poets will also participate, including Shihab Ghanem, Nadia Al-Najjar, Fatima Al-Mazrouei, Safiya Al-Shehhi, Maryam Al-Zarouni, Dr. Afraa Ateeq, Saleha Obaid, and Ali Al-Shaali. In children’s literature, Hessa Al-Muhairi, Maitha Al-Khayyat, Rawan Al-Yahmadi, Noura Al-Khoury, and Ibtisam Al-Baiti will participate.

The festival offers its audience a rich experience that is in tune with various tastes and interests through a series of diverse themes, and the “Highlight Talk” theme sheds light on current cultural issues.

While the “Lessons from Life” theme offers practical and applied insights, and the “Amazing World of Literature” theme takes narrative lovers on immersive story journeys.

The “Book Corner” provides an ideal platform to hone creative skills, in addition to fun family events, the lively “After Day into Night” program, and the “Artists Market” that celebrates local artists.

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature continues its activities until January 27, promising its visitors an exceptional cultural week overflowing with creativity. From the evening of “Verses from the Depths of the Desert” with its poetic atmosphere, to the specialized educational workshops presented by an elite group of the world’s most brilliant writers, the festival is embodied as an interactive celebration that celebrates the art of narrative in all its forms, and an invitation to the public to explore new intellectual horizons, exchange inspiring visions, and rediscover the joy of reading in a vibrant atmosphere. It leaves an unforgettable impact.

The full festival schedule, list of speakers and all information on how to attend can be found by visiting the link: emirateslitfest.com.

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