Special events not to be missed include ‘Celebrating Kahlil Gibran,’ and ‘A dinner with celebrity TV chef Bobby Chinn’
Brian Cox, Jeffrey Archer, and David Walliams lead long list of international talent set to jet into Dubai next month for week-long festival that will run from February 1-6
Fun events include a literature-based quiz, a huge Words With Friends tournament, and a Family Feud-style gameshow
Dubai, UAE, 17 January 2023: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the biggest celebration of stories in the Arab region and one of the top literary festivals in the world, will mark its 15th anniversary from 1-6 February 2023, with a compelling programme featuring a star-filled mix of award-winning authors, Hollywood celebrities, and literary industry experts.
Bringing together more than 250 of the world’s greatest writers and thinkers for more than 300 events, the programme is packed with prominent names, many of whom are reflecting this year’s festival theme and returning to Dubai as “Old Friends”.
Not to be missed events include Celebrating Kahlil Gibran, a spectacular gala dinner night on 4 February, featuring artistic performances as an ode to Gibran’s 140th birth anniversary and the 100th anniversary of his magnum opus – ‘The Prophet’.
Highlights also include the panel discussion with HE Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, and HE Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. Offered with simultaneous translation, the panel underscores the UAE’s leading role in shaping the future; from providing solutions in the areas of health, education, happiness, and soft power indicators to attracting investment and international relations and culture.
In this context, Hala Badri, Director General of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, said: “The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is one of the most important cultural events on Dubai’s event calendar, as it has turned into an annual forum that gathers various stakeholders under one roof to discuss topics of interest to the community, in addition to providing qualitative opportunities to interact with creative talent in literary fields, which positively reflects on the local cultural scene.”
Badri confirmed that Dubai Culture’s support for the festival falls within the framework of its commitments to make Dubai an attractive destination for intellectuals and creatives from all over the world, adding: ”We have many commonalities with Emirates Airline Festival for Literature, aimed at promoting knowledge and spreading cultural awareness, as well as providing means of innovative thinking to advance human thought and understanding and contribute to supporting and establishing the civilizational development that Dubai seeks to achieve, through a set of initiatives and plans aimed at making reading a way of life. We also celebrate the local literary product, highlight Emirati talent and their contributions that enrich the Arab and international cultural arena, and raise awareness of the importance of cultural exchange.”
Badri expressed her pride in participating in the festival’s panel and talking about the country’s experience in shaping the future, affirming the importance of discussing such topics that highlight the experience of Dubai and the UAE in the creative, cultural and economic fields.
A Dinner with Bobby Chinn, crafted by the celebrity chef on 3 February, shows how elegant dining can have a focus on sustainability, with an exclusive menu at Zaytoun Restaurant in the InterContinental – Dubai Festival City, accompanied by a chat with the man himself.
Desert Stanzas, the festival’s much-loved signature event will make its return on the opening night, 1 February, featuring poetry renditions and narratives that encourage reminiscing, paying tribute to ancestral wisdom and cultures of the past. There will also be an homage to the preservation of the planet and the COP28 story, interpreted through performance.
Amongst the top novelists taking part in the programme is Jeffrey Archer, who will lead a session on how to write a bestseller, as well as providing an exploration into his next book in the William Warwick series. Meanwhile, Succession’s Brian Cox will lead a session on his own rags-to-riches life story, discussing his journey to success and his ongoing experience inside the showbiz industry. An extra special session celebrating the life of literacy hero Kahlil Gibran will also bring people together to learn more about his journey as an inspirational writer and political rebel.
For those looking to keep the children entertained and spark a passion for reading at the same time, revered children’s author and comedian David Walliams will be returning to the fold with two fun-filled sessions on his best sellers, Spaceboy and World’s Worst Pets.
Light-hearted events also include The Big Fat Lit Quiz which will see radio presenter turned quizmaster Catboy challenge attendees’ literacy knowledge with a series of testing questions; The Writer’s Feud, the Emirates Lit Fest’s version of popular gameshow, Family Feud; and a giant ‘Words With Old Friends’ session will bring together fans from across the region for a huge Scrabble game that’s sure to test everyone’s competitiveness.
Music lovers can rejoice with the Litfest Big Sing: Crème De La Choir, which brings together a variety of singers from across the UAE, a concert from critically acclaimed musicians Mariela Shaker and Riyad Nicolas, an open mic night for the region’s brightest poets to share their artistic flair, and Martin Kiszko will premier his award-winning play King Frank and the Knights of the Ecoquest alongside a host of school performers.
More information about the Emirates Literature Foundation can be found online and year-round news of #EmiratesLitFest on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram YouTube and TikTok @emirateslitfest
About the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature:
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is the Arab World’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, featuring international and regional writers, poets, thinkers and speakers from around the world. Over the last 14 years more than 1,800 authors from over one hundred countries have spoken at the Festival. In 2022 the Festival reached more than 105,000 people, in person and via live streaming. Sessions included multi-talented top children’s author David Walliams, entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuck, Indra Nooyi ranked amongst the world’s 100 most powerful women executives, and Bridgerton author Julia Quinn, and the Education Programme featured children’s favourites Ali Sparkes, Rob Biddulph, Sanaa Chabbani, Gulnar Hajou and Ken Arto.
The aim of the Festival is to develop a culture of reading as an enjoyable habit in the UAE, and its efforts have been recognised through many awards over the years. By providing an equal platform for international and locally based talents, the Festival continues to build the literary landscape in the UAE and further afield. Alongside the main programme, the Festival organises an Education programme, reaching students across the seven emirates of the UAE. There are also student competitions, held in Arabic and English, which allow young people to showcase their skills through poetry, short stories and reading.
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 & Arts Authority (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
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.
About Emirates
Emirates is an award-winning international airline with a global footprint across six continents, connecting passengers and facilitating global trade to and through its modern hub, Dubai to over 120 destinations. The airline operates one of the most modern and efficient aircraft fleet comprised of spacious and comfortable Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 aircraft. With a culturally diverse workforce from over 130 nationalities, Emirates caters to its global customer base by delivering exceptional services and world-class products. The airline also supports local communities worldwide and brings people together through its vast portfolio of international sports and cultural sponsorships.
About Dubai Culture & Arts Authority
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is committed to enriching Dubai’s cultural scene based on the UAE’s heritage, and is building bridges of constructive dialogue between various cultures to enhance Dubai’s position as a global centre for culture, an incubator for creativity, and a thriving hub for talent.
Dubai Culture is keen on reviving and preserving the emirate’s historical heritage and developing the regulatory frameworks for the cultural and creative sector in line with its strategic roadmap 2020 – 2025.
The Authority also seeks to empower the enablers that seek to support talents and stimulate active participation from society members by investing in the various cultural and heritage assets under its remit, including the management of six heritage sites, four museums, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children and eight Dubai Public Library branches, all of which help contribute to creating an economic system that stimulates the cultural and creative industries.
For more information, please visit the Authority’s website www.dubaiculture.gov.ae
