The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has announced its full line up of masterclasses at this year’s hotly anticipated event, with a fantastic range of workshops across both Arabic and Englishfrom award-winning international and local authors.

Priced between 150Dhs – 300Dhs, the unmissable sessions take place between 1-6 February across the festival’s two homes – the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library and the InterContinental hotel, Dubai Festival City.

Horror buffs can rejoice with an insightful session from award-winning Catriona Ward, whose work was earmarked by Stephen King as ‘authentically terrifying’ on how to haunt the text and hone the horror, while the comic loving community cannot miss Nathan Pyle’s gathering on web comics.

Those looking to learn more about writing their own novelsshould head for sessions by Jo Browning Wroe on the art of compelling storytelling, while Greg and Kate Mosse will lead a workshop on writing dazzling dialogue.Luigi and Alison Bonomi will take attendees on an educational journey of how to pitch your novel once it’s written, while Felicity Blunt will explain how to secure an agent. Sessions on writing in Arabic will be led by Dr Rana Dajani and Haji Jabir on how to write your first book, and Hend Saeed on writing with the senses.

If illustration is the book hook, Maitha Al Khayat will introduce how to tell stories through images, Kajo Baldisimo will lead an illustration workshop, while Flavia Z. Drago will discuss Mexican Folk Art with an audience keen to learn more about Cartinas, Bruhas, and Fantasmas.

“Our exciting and diverse line up of workshops are always eagerly awaited by the vibrant community of writers in the UAE who want to hone their writing and illustration skills and this year we go beyond that with sessions on the metaverse and podcasts,” said Isobel Abulhoul, OBE, CEO, and trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation, which organises the Festival. “The chance to be in the same room and learn from top authors and experts is invaluable, so we keep spaces limited to ensure that those lucky enough to take part really benefit from the experience. This year will be no exception, and we expect the workshops to sell out quickly.”