- In collaboration with Dubai Culture, the Festival continues to explore and support local talents.
- Prominent names from UAE’s cultural and creative sector feature in a number of sessions and events
- HH Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum discusses her book Through My Eyes: The Life of Sheikh Hamdan as Told by His Daughter
Dubai, UAE-: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which will take place from 1-6 February 2023 at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City and Mohammed bin Rashid Library, has announced that it will feature its greatest number ever of top Emirati writers, speakers, and creators, as well as emerging talents, in a series of sessions, panels, and workshops. All sessions are offered in Arabic and English as part of the “Bil Emirati” theme, which is sponsored by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture). The theme covers the recent developments in the publishing industry, culture and folklore, literature, sustainability, and other topics.
The line-up for 2023 features some of the most prominent speakers from UAE’s cultural and creative sector such as HH Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, HE Mohamed Ahmed Al Murr, HE Omar Saif Ghobash, Dr. Rafia Ghobash, Maisoon Saqr Al Qasmi, Dr. Habib Al Attar, Dr. Raja Al Gurg, Major Ali Al Suwaidi, Ali Al Saloom, Nujoom Al Ghanim and more.
Dr Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, has affirmed the value of Emirati creative talent being key to the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature and sharing the stage with global writers, performers and thought leaders, saying: “At Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, we hold the partnership with Emirates Literature Foundation in high regard. We are keen to support the Bil Emirati strand as it showcases Emiratis that are distinguished in the cultural field for a wider audience, which falls under our sectoral priorities to ensure our local talent are being showcased infront of a regional and global audience. Events like these address aims for establishing Dubai as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity and a thriving hub for talent.”
“Creativity is the greatest national treasure of all countries. The Arab region and the UAE are brimming with talents for the rest of the world to discover and enjoy. We are proud to offer an annual platform at the Festival that brings Emirati talents from various fields together with their peers from around the world to exchange opinions and perspectives in the form of this outstanding literary and creative experience,” said Ahlam Bolooki, Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.
A not-to-be-missed session is the intimate discussion between Julia Wheeler and HE Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum who will give the audience insights about her recently published book Through My Eyes, a tribute to her father – not just the formidable man he was in public but also the joyous, kind, warm and thoughtful man he was behind closed doors.
Following the outstanding launch of Tomorrow, I Will Fly, the Festival celebrates the launch of another unique book Feeding the Soul, featuring recipes by the inmates of Dubai’s penal and correctional institutions. The session will feature a panel discussion with Isobel Abulhoul, Colonel Jamila Al Zaabi and Zahra Abdalla discussing the culinary journey behind the publishing initiative and why food feeds our souls as well as our stomachs.
While the majority of the sessions take place at the Interconnectional Dubai Festival City, the audience can enjoy taking the Abra in Dubai Creek and attend a selection of sessions at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library such as Ali Al Saloom and Prof Giovanni Bozzeti providing practical advice on how to be mindful of cultural practices when dealing with different people in both a professional and personal context.
A chance for self-development is provided by Omar Al Busaidy, an Emirati corporate expert and strategist, who will share his experiences and offer valuable guidance on how to navigate through different aspects of life, setting up an entrepreneurial career, and other tips and tricks that can help achieve personal and professional goals.
Alexander Thomas, Ismat Mahmassani and HE Omar Saif Ghobash explore together another crucial aspect of our lives, spirituality. The panel discover how spirituality can offer a daily inspiration that transcends beyond religious practice and cultures across a shared human experience.
A mystical and magical night under the stars awaits the audience, taking them back to our ancestral roots to be immersed in indigenous folklore and legend in “Fables Around the Fire”; featuring Ben Miller, Budjette Tan, Bolu Babalola, Dubai Abulhoul, Nicholas Jubber and Saladin Ahmed.
A panel of experts including Dr Raja Al Gurg, the Chairperson and Managing Director of one of UAE’s leading business conglomerates, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group (ESAG), joins Ann Hiatt, Silicon Valley veteran and speaker with decades of experience as the Executive Business Partner for Jeff Bezos and Founder and CEO of Amazon and Piyush Pandey, Chairman of Global Creative and executive chairman of Ogilvy India, who will share their insights and advice on the skills that the business leaders of tomorrow will need.
The programme also features other prominent and emerging Emirati talents in a series of Arabic sessions such as HE Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Foundation, who shares the journey of preparation for opening the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, one of the largest libraries both in the region and in the world. Dr Rafia Ghubash who brilliantly wrote and documented the lives of her grandfather, her mother and then her brother, Hussein Ghubash, whose work has gone on to become a reference for scholars and researchers, discusses the details of her journey of writing and wandering through the leaps of life, leaving her own imprint.
The Festival also hosts a special edition of the social media favourite “Ask Hala” in which Hala Kazim answers the burning questions about friendships and relationships.
Tickets for “Bil Emirati” sessions and full programme are available at link
Ticket prices start at AED 25 and there will be 15% off general session tickets in a special early bird anniversary offer from 15 November 2022 -15 December 2022. Also new this year are day-long, weekend, student and publishing day passes starting at AED 199. And an all-access Crystal Pass with exclusive entry to the Green Room. Also returning is the Festival Fringe, with a host of fun free events and performances for all the family
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Festival is a key part of the Emirates Literature Foundation, which was established in 2013 by Royal Decree. In partnership with Emirates Airline and the Dubai Culture (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority for heritage, arts, and culture, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will be back in 2023. For information and updates about the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature visit the website: www.emirateslitfest.com
