Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, The Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will return for its 12^th edition with new dates and a fresh format. Set to take place 4-9 February 2020 at InterContinental Dubai – Festival City, the homegrown Festival is the Middle East’s largest celebration of the written and spoken word, bringing people of all ages and backgrounds together with authors from around the world to promote the love of reading, writing and great conversation.

The new five-day programme for the 2020 edition will host more than 130 sought-after international and local authors, exploring the topics that matter most. Audiences can expect a stellar line-up of writers of fiction and non-fiction, memoir, history, science, exploration, well-being, business leadership, children’s stories and much more.

Ahlam Bolooki, Festival Director said: “No two Festivals are ever the same, and we are very excited about the coming edition. The shorter format means all our authors will have a chance to meet and interact, and we can look forward to some spectacular panel discussions. Some old favourite Festival features will return along with new developments. While it is still the community’s favourite festival, it will also be new and different. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to world-class writers and stimulating the conversations that matter most to us all. As always, the programme will offer something for everyone, whether they are compulsive readers or haven’t read a book in years and no matter where their interests lie.”

Hala Badri said: “The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is the inaugural event of Dubai Art Season 2020, held under the flagship of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture). We are fully committed to supporting the Festival and to promoting a love of reading across our nation. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said, the spread of knowledge through literature is key to our development and innovation. In line with the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a city of happy, empowered and proud individuals, we encourage all of the community to take part in the Festival and to witness the array of world-class authors in attendance. We, at Dubai Culture, the founding partners of this Festival, strive to foster and develop talented individuals across all sectors, and to boost creativity, which will sustain Dubai as a destination for distinguished minds.”

The annual event in Dubai promotes books, reading and the richness of words in all their forms. It brings an appreciation and understanding of different cultures and how literature enhances all our lives. The Festival offers an opportunity to meet local and world-famous authors, attend literary debates and workshops, participate in competitions and be inspired by literary heroes.

Launched in 2009 with 65 authors through the hard work of passionate individuals from the local community and the support of founding partners Emirates and Dubai Culture, the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has grown rapidly. In 2019, it welcomed more than 180 authors from 40 countries around the world to entertain and engage more than 45,000 people. Recognised for the impact it has had on promoting a reading culture in the UAE, and its extensive education outreach programme, it has won many awards, including Best Festival in the Middle East three times. A cherished feature of the Festival has been the close ties it has to its diverse community; an open feedback loop means it can consider its audiences’ wishes in its programme, format and even dates and times.

More information about the Emirates Literature Foundation can be found online and year-round news of #EmiratesLitFest on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.