Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2023 is all about celebrating connections

Dubai: The Emirates Literature Foundation announced, that they will celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature from February 1-6, 2023.

The Festival will return to their original neighbourhood, near Dubai Creek. Sessions will take place at the Intercontinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City and the recently inaugurated Mohammed Bin Rashid Library with a special opening night event at the Caravanserai desert camp. The theme for the Emirates LitFest will be “Old Friends”.

There are so many fond memories of the last 15 years as the Festival has grown from strength to strength says Isobel Abulhoul, CEO and Trustee of Emirates Literature Foundation. “A huge part of our success can be attributed to the connections we have made over the years and the community we have created.”

Ahlam Bolooki, Festival Director said. “Our theme for this Festival is perfect for our anniversary edition. A symbolic tribute to our old friends, our loyal friends, and the books that have kept us company in good times and bad times. And a gesture of gratitude to our sponsors, partners, authors, and volunteers for their unwavering support. The speaker line-up will be our biggest yet, with old friends and new friends, gracing the Emirates LitFest stage for a diverse programme of insightful discussions, unique workshops and special events that truly befit this special occasion.”

The Foundation will reveal the speakers for the 2023 Festival on 14 November at an invitation-only launch event at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library.

More information about the Emirates Literature Foundation can be found online and year-round news of #EmiratesLitFest on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The Foundation also has two podcasts; the Best of the Emirates LitFest, and the Boundless Book Club. 

About the Emirates Literature Foundation:

The Emirates Literature Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation which supports and nurtures a love of literature in the United Arab Emirates and the region, through a programme of varied cultural initiatives. 

Established in 2013 by Royal Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation aims to foster a love for literature, with a focus on the Arabic language. 

In line with the National Reading Policy of the UAE, the Foundation has implemented several long-term projects including the School Librarian of the Year Award, Kateb Maktub, and From the Inside Out, as well as conducting year-round student education programmes, book clubs and mentorship programmes. The Foundation’s previous initiatives included the 2020 International Literary Festivals Conference, the 2017 Dubai International Publishing Conference and the 2016 Dubai Translation Conference. 

The Foundation is also the governing body of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the UAE’s premier literary festival.