The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature celebrates translation and promotes dialogue among civilisations

DUBAI, 22nd January, 2017 (WAM) – Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation and President of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, confirmed that the eighteenth edition of the festival represents a distinguished cultural station that celebrates Arabic literature and enhances its global presence through translation, cultural dialogue, and integrated knowledge programs targeting various segments of society.

Bolooki said in a statement to the Emirates News Agency, WAM, that the festival, whose activities began yesterday and will continue until January 27, this year pays special attention to translation as one of the most important bridges of communication between cultures, noting that the twentieth session of the Saif Pasha Translation Award will be celebrated, which has contributed over two decades to transmitting prominent Arabic literary works to foreign readers, especially in the English language, in the presence of an elite group of winning translators and writers whose works have reached the international level.

She added that the festival’s program also includes celebrating the Sheikh Zayed Book Award and hosting prominent literary names from the Arab world, along with writers from diverse nationalities and cultural backgrounds, which reflects the diversity of the global cultural scene and enhances dialogue between civilizations.

She explained that the family program constitutes an essential pillar of the festival due to the positive and interactive cultural content it carries, while the children’s program is one of the largest and most important specialized programs in the region, as it has witnessed continuous development over 14 years and contributed to consolidating the love of reading and knowledge among the emerging generations.

Blocki pointed out that the opening ceremony witnessed a wide attendance of partners, writers, and the public, in a scene that reflects the strength of strategic partnerships and the continued support that the festival enjoys from cultural institutions, readers, and writers from around the world.

She stressed that the ongoing partnership with Emirates Airlines since the launch of the festival embodies a common vision based on connecting peoples and cultures, explaining that aviation and literature share their role as a bridge for human communication and the exchange of ideas across borders.

She stressed that the book will remain present despite the rapid changes, stressing that humans understand the world through stories and that the need for literature and narrative will remain firmly established across generations.

Ahlam Bolooki said that the festival presented the Literary Personality of the Year Award to the late Sultan bin Ali Al Owais, who founded the Sultan Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation in 1987, and was keen to ensure that it remained a prestigious platform for Arab intellectuals and thinkers.

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