Emirates Lit Festival will host new events and experiences in the form of LitFest After Hours, Discovery Talks, LitFest Families and Youth Day

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the UAE’s beloved literary event, is just around the corner, set to bring together prominent writers, creators, and thought leaders from around the world. The festival promises a space for enlightenment and inspiration through various events such as LitFest After Hours, Discovery Talks, LitFest Families, and Youth Day.

LitFest After Hours ensures the festivities continue after sunset, featuring performances, games, activities, and food from Thursday to Sunday. Discovery Talks offer free, engaging lectures covering diverse topics, including the Spiderverse, Chinese mythology, Arabic language, and artificial intelligence. LitFest Families caters to young bookworms with a weekend packed with storytelling, illustrations, and diverse themes.

Youth Day invites university and high school students to participate in curated events covering artificial intelligence, literature, business, sustainability, with a focus on Arabic culture.

The star-studded lineup includes renowned authors like Paul Lynch, Bernardine Evaristo, Hazza AlMansoori, Curtis Sittenfeld, and others. Special events include a tribute to Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish, a conversation between Bernardine Evaristo and Claudia Rankine, and the regional TikTok Book Awards.

Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of Emirates Literature Foundation, expresses excitement about elevating the festival to new heights, shaping a literary landscape aligned with audience interests.

The festival includes book launches, notably “Out of This World” by Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi, offering a unique perspective on his 6-month space journey. The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is supported by Title Sponsor Emirates Airline and Founding Partner Dubai Culture & Arts Authority.

Badr Abbas, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, emphasizes storytelling’s power to transcend borders and enrich cultures. The festival enhances its partnership with Dubai Culture to promote Emirati authors globally through the ‘Bil Emirati strand’ initiative.

Recognized by UNESCO, the Emirates Literature Foundation’s commitment to education and sustainability is acknowledged through official relations for six years. The Foundation plans to relocate to Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood, housing the Dubai International Writer’s Center from April 2024.

In collaboration with Dubai Civil Defence, the Foundation introduces the ELF Reading Caravan, a mobile library bringing literature to doorsteps, fostering a love for reading and community engagement.

The festival, running from January 31 to February 6 at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City, offers a diverse program with 160 events, contributing to Dubai’s vibrant art and culture scene.

Also read: UNTOLD-Dubai’s 1stMega Festival: jam-packed with some of the top artists from across the world, this musical extravaganza is not to be missed  

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