Biggest Emirati line-up to dazzle LitFest
Panel discussions and workshops to be led by UAE writers and content creators
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on February 1-6 will feature its highest number of Emirati writers, speakers, creators and talents attending a series of sessions, panels, and workshops at the Intercontinental Dubai Festival City and Mohammad Bin Rashid Library.
All sessions will be in Arabic and English as part of the ‘Bil Emirati’ theme sponsored by Dubai Culture. The line-up for 2023 features Shaikha Latifa Bint Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Mohammad Ahmad Al Murr, Omar Saif Ghobash, Dr Rafia Ghobash, Maisoon Saqr Al Qasmi, Dr Habib Al Attar, Dr Raja Al Gurg, Major Ali Al Suwaidi, Ali Al Saloom, Nujoom Al Ghanim and more.
In a discussion with Julia Wheeler, Shaikha Latifa will provide insights about her recently published book Through My Eyes, which is a tribute to her father.
Prisoners’ recipe book
Following the launch of Tomorrow, I Will Fly, the LitFest celebrates the launch of another unique book Feeding the Soul, featuring recipes by the inmates of Dubai’s penal and correctional institutions.
The session will feature a panel discussion with Isobel Abulhoul, Colonel Jamila Al Zaabi and Zahra Abdalla.
A chance for self-development will provided by Omar Al Busaidy, an Emirati corporate expert and strategist, while Alexander Thomas, Ismat Mahmassani and Omar Saif Ghobash will explore spirituality.
Expert advice
A panel of experts, including Dr Raja Al Gurg, chairperson and managing director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, will join Silicon Valley veteran Ann Hiatt and Piyush Pandey, chairman of Global Creative and executive chairman of Ogilvy India, to share advice on the skills that the business leaders of tomorrow will need.
In a series of Arabic sessions. Mohammad Al Murr will share the journey of preparation for opening the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library. Dr Rafia Ghubash will discuss the details of her journey of writing and wandering through the leaps of life, leaving her own imprint.
The festival will alaso hosts a special edition of the social media favourite ‘Ask Hala’, in which Hala Kazim answers the burning questions about friendships and relationships.