The 18th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature kicked off in Dubai on Wednesday and will run until January 27. Over a week packed with panel discussions, workshops and cultural events, some of the world’s most influential writers will meet with their audiences, turning Dubai into a vibrant cultural hub that brings readers and creators together and places the festival at the heart of the emirate’s dynamic cultural scene.
This year and on the centenary of his birth, the festival is paying tribute to the late poet Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais, who left an indelible mark on both the cultural and economic landscapes of the UAE and the wider Arab world. The opening ceremony was attended by Abdul Hamaid Ahmd, Secretary-General of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Award, and Ibrahim Al Hashimi, the Executive Director, who received the honour, in their capacity as representatives of the Sultan Bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation.
Taking place at InterContinental Dubai Festival City, the festival hosts nearly 200 speakers from more than 40 countries, including internationally bestselling authors such as Wole Soyinka, Hoda Barakat, Jung Chang, Saud Alsanousi, Oliver Jeffers, Alawiya Sobh, Ruth Ware, Ezzat Elkamhawi, Vir Das, Sultan Al Amimi, Curtis Jobling, Omer Taher, Eowyn Ivey, Dai Rahmi, MC Grammar, Asma Khan, Abdulrahman Alhemeiri, Aube Rey Lescure, Naeema Al Hosani and Shamma Al Bastaki. From storytelling sessions and panel discussions to hands-on workshops and live performances, the programme features more than 200 events, including talks, Writers’ Corner sessions and family-friendly activities.
The festival opened in the presence of Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi; Zaki Nusseibeh, Cultural Adviser to the UAE President and Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU); Hala Badri, Director-General of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture); Shatha Al Mulla, Assistant Undersecretary for the National Identity and Arts Sector at the Ministry of Culture; Dr. Rafia Ghubash, founder of the Women’s Museum; Boutros Boutros, Executive Vice President for Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand at Emirates; Dubai Abulhoul, founder of the Fikr Institute; and Lieutenant Colonel Hamdan Al Suwaidi.
The festival opened with a parade organised by Dubai Police, featuring mounted officers and students from the Hemaya Schools. The opening ceremony, hosted by Alyaa Al Mansoori, was designed as a moment of reflection ahead of the festival’s packed programme of events and activities.
The ceremony featured a varied programme, including musical performances by the national youth string ensemble Camerata and the Repton School choir. The ceremony was hosted by Alyaa AlMansoori and featured speeches, stories, and poetry by Erth Dubai, Shamma Al Bastaki, Rachel Bright, Mehran Gul, and Dr. Afra Atiq.
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation and Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said: “Since its launch, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has served as a global platform bringing together leading literary and intellectual voices from the region and around the world. Today, the festival takes pride in its 18-year contribution to strengthening the UAE’s and Dubai’s position as a key destination on the global map of creative and intellectual exchange. We remain committed to advancing this mission by offering distinctive intellectual contributions that enrich the cultural and creative landscape both regionally and internationally.”
She added: “This festival is about more than books; it is about hope, human connection, the questions we carry, the lives we live, and the stories that help us make sense of them. It is for the parent teaching a child their mother tongue, the young professional learning to navigate a complex world, and the reader seeking truth in uncertain times. Come, listen, read, and leave with something that stays with you long after the festival ends.”
Dubai Culture is supporting two strands: ‘Bil Emirati’, celebrating the UAE’s finest creatives, and ‘Translation’, highlighting translation as a cultural bridge. It is also backing the Literary Luminary Prize, which honours Emirati storytellers whose work inspires young creatives and strengthens the UAE’s stature as a global literary hub.
The festival’s distinguished lineup includes Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation; Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage; Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre; Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation; Ibrahim Al Hashmi, Executive Director of the Sultan bin Ali Al Owais Cultural Foundation; Dr. Sultan Al Amimi, Chairman of the Emirates Writers Union; and travel documenter Ibrahim Al Thahli.
Also participating a select group of authors and poets, including Shihab Ghanem, Nadia Al Najjar, Fatima Al Mazrouie, Safia AlShehi, Maryam AlZarooni, Dr. Afra Atiq, Salha Obaid and Ali AlShaali. Children’s literature is represented by Hessa Almehairi, Maitha Al Khayat, Rawan Alyahmadi, Noura Al Khoori, and Ebtisam Al Beiti.
The festival offers audiences a rich and varied experience designed to appeal to diverse tastes and interests through a series of thematic strands. The “Talk of the Hour” programme highlights pressing cultural issues, while “Lessons from Life” delivers practical and applied insights. The “Wondrous World of Literature” strand takes storytelling enthusiasts on immersive narrative journeys, and the Writers’ Corner provides an ideal platform for honing creative skills. The programme also includes lively family-friendly events, the vibrant “After Dark” sessions, and the Artists’ Souq, which celebrates local creative talent.
