Please Fasten Your Seatbelts

Fasten Your Seatbelts and Embark on an Adventure with Noura Al Khoori!

A fun-filled session for children inspired by the book Please Fasten Your Seatbelts. Kids will experience their first journey through interactive activities and engaging storytelling, learning the steps of travel from the airport to the airplane, and taking part in games and stories drawn from the fascinating world of aviation.

Poetic Commandments

A poetry evening with Aloush Alswait​ and Dai Rahmi​ celebrating words that bring comfort and illuminate your path. They explore poetry as a faithful friend and a beauty that opens the door to salvation.

+971: Emirati Creatives Shaping the UAE

Meet the visionaries reshaping and redefining the UAE’s cultural and creative landscape, including artists, designers, and innovators featured in +971, along with its editor Myrna Ayad.

Taste of Home

Thousands of stories hide in the corners of homes. How has the house appeared in literature and human memory? In a delicate conversation, Dr Shahla Ujayli, and Omer Taher take us on a journey that pierces through walls toward the light.

In My Right Eye, a Garden

An inspiring children’s session featuring Emirati author Dr. Fatma Mohammed, who shares the story In My Right Eye, a Garden, where a mother’s journey with her son Zayed becomes a heartfelt message of love, hope, and embracing differences. Through warm storytelling and interactive activities, children will learn the values of empathy and belonging, and discover the beauty of diversity in the world of People of Determination.

Creating New Worlds with Alwyn Hamilton

Bestselling author Alwyn Hamilton reveals how to build immersive worlds, craft mythology and culture, and weave vivid details into stories. Leave with the tools to create settings readers can truly inhabit.

The Symphony of the Seventh Day

In The Seventh Day Symphony, writer Jalal Brajas takes us to a city on the brink of collapse, where myths blend with music and reality. In a story of ruin, the human being continues to search for a glimmer of hope and meaning amid the fog.

Movie Screening: Hoba (The Vile)

Winner at Fantastic Fest, Hoba (The Vile) is a chilling Emirati horror film. Amani’s peaceful life shatters when a second wife, and something far darker enters her home.

The screening is followed by a Q&A with the director, moderated by artist and film curator Hind Mezaina.

Fragrances in the UAE

A session exploring traditional Emirati perfumes through Hamda Alzarooni’s documentary study, highlighting their cultural, social, and economic significance and their role in shaping authentic Emirati identity.

The Translator as A Narrator

How does a translator become a storyteller who shifts the narrative perspective? Join Faisal Al Suwaidi and Luke Leafgren as they explore the influence of culture on text and the boundaries of creative fidelity.

The Golden Visa: Investing in Creativity and Community

A panel discussion highlighting the impact of the Golden Visa in fostering creativity, featuring four recipients: Mohammad  Alnabulsi, Musab Beirutieh , Rola Nader Al Banna​, and Sahar Naja Mahfouz​. They will explore how this initiative has strengthened their professional and personal presence, while reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation and culture.

In collaboration with the General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai

Sidr Honey

A Children’s Session with Emirati Author Reem Al Gurg Exploring the Story Sidra Honey

In this engaging session, Emirati author Reem Al Gurg brings to life the tale of Sidra Honey, where the tree becomes a symbol of hope and belonging. Through captivating storytelling and interactive activities, children will discover how a simple story can nurture love for the land and inspire them to protect the environment and heritage.

Wanderer

“Milk and Rain” is a Somali expression symbolizing joy during travel. In this session, we explore travel literature with writers Abdulwahab Alhammadi and Ibrahim Althehli, reflecting on how moments of contentment on the road can become a source of spiritual nourishment.

You In Chapters

This workshop, led by Safia Alshehi and inspired by her book "You in Chapters", explores self-growth and inner balance. Through open discussion and meditative exercises, participants learn to understand and accept themselves.

Arabs at New Dawn

Ahmed Saadawi, Alawiya Sobh, and Ezzat Elkamhawi come together to reflect on the Arab literary scene and its transformations, tracing the state of the Arab individual as they sway between turmoil and certainty—between what is lost and what remains.

My Name is Alia and This is My Father

Writer Ali AlShaali takes us on a reflective journey through the fragility of reputation and the resilience of love, redefining fatherhood and daughterhood through his new novel My Name is Alia, and This is My Father.

Salha Obaid: Circle of Spices

Join award-winning Emirati author Salha Obaid for a celebration of the English translation of her acclaimed novel Circle of Spices, while enjoying tea inspired by the book’s aromatic world.

Of Joys and Sorrows

Ezzat Elkamhawi opens the doors of literature to life’s contradictions, revealing the fragility of the human being caught between joy and loss, longing and heartbreak—with a language that gracefully captures the depth of the human essence.

What Remains of the Tale

Hoda Barakat is a novelist who has turned text into a home spacious enough for love, exile, and wounds. In this session, we delve into her works, which consistently explore her ability to unify her homeland, Lebanon, through various forms of pain.

Full of Life: In Praise and Blame Things

Writers Alawiya Sobh, Hasan Madan, and Nadia Alnajjar ask: Why do we love life, yet sometimes quarrel with it? Why do we cling to memories, while wishing to be freed from them? Why do we love to travel, yet always long to return?

I Don't Want the World to Change

A session exploring humanity’s anxiety over the accelerating pace of technological change. How does literature capture moments of confusion and redraw our relationship with the world? Featuring Dr. Hamza Kenawy, Mahdi Hanna, and Mirna El Mahdy.

Years of Al Maghar

The first Gulf story comes alive in a session with writers Abdulwahab Alhammadi, Hasan Madan, Maryam AlZarooni, and Mohammed Alhebsi. Relive tales of diving and travel, and explore how life before oil shaped the region’s cultural identity and collective memory.

In Search of Alternative Justice

Ahmed Saadawi and Mohamed Samir Nada come together to explore how writing becomes a space for compensation—a mirror for the overlooked, a memory for the forgotten, and a refuge for those seeking solace beyond reality.

Bin Shabib Brother: My Grandfather's Story

A session highlighting the book A Radiant Biography by researcher Muayyad Al‑Shaibani, which explores the life of His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Almulla, one of the nation’s founders. The session features his daughter, HE Ayesha Mohammed Saeed Al Mulla, alongside his grandsons, Ahmed bin Shabib and Rashed bin Shabib, in a reflective discussion on his legacy and the values that continue to inspire generations.

If Not for Fear, What Would We Write?

Fear has always shadowed writers, testing their courage. In this session, Ayesha Sultan, Layla Almotawa, and Mohammed Samir Nada share their answers to one of the most daunting questions: What if my family reads what I write?

Encyclopedia of Emirati Education

Dr Rafia Ghubash joins Maryam Lootah in a session on the journey of education in the UAE, centered around the book The UAE Encyclopedia of Education. The book explores how this legacy helps us understand the present, study the past, and prepare for the future.

Sheikh Zayed Book Award

20 years of an award that has celebrated pivotal works and introduced us to influential figures. Join His Excellency Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Hessa Almehairi, Hoda Barakat, and Margaret Obank in a celebratory session reviewing the award’s impact on Arab and global culture.

The Most Beautiful Woman in the World?

From the image of the mother in collective heritage to her presence in literature, Badriah Albishr, Hoda Barakat, and Soukaina Habiballah come together for an honest conversation drawn from their personal experiences, to explore the complex relationship between mothers and children.

Cultural Languages of Places

How do cities leave their mark on literature and art? Join Ahmad AlSuh, Ahmed Elmorsy, Dai Rahmi, and Mounir El Hayek, for a lively discussion exploring the hidden relationship between people and place from an aesthetic and cultural perspective.

Arabian Nights: Poetry and Qanoun

Five poets present their verses in a live dialogue with the melodies of the East, opening doors to the past, modernity, philosophy, and love. Featuring Ali Al Mazmi, Aloush Alsuwait, Dr Hanin Omar, Hassan Alnajjar, Nasser Akram and Maryam AlZarooni, joined by qanun player Farah Younes.

A Hundred Books and More

Emirati writers who took their first steps before the age of technology. With Ali Abu Al Reesh, Dr Shihab Ghanem, and Hessah Lootah, we discover how they reached the top through the difficult path—before self-promotion platforms became available.

In Conversation With Sultan Al Amimi

This session celebrates the journey of Dr Sultan Al Amimi, a writer whose vision embraces poetry, fiction, and short stories. His passion has turned language into a mirror reflecting the Emirati spirit and its transformations, and literature into an extension of life itself, where writing remains his most beautiful path to meaning.

Whispers of Wisdom

Two leading figures in Emirati heritage—His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Almusallam and Dr. Rashid Ahmed Al Mazroui—take you on a captivating journey into the world of folk proverbs, exploring their role in shaping identity and influencing everyday language and values.

Broadcasting All the Sweet Things

Omer Taher is a writer who transforms ordinary daily life into texts filled with details that resemble people and speak in their voice. In this session, we revisit his literary journey, which has offered space for deep reflection on things, people, and emotions.

Arabic Murder Mystery

A crime, a detective, and a baffling case investigated by a detective with a supernatural ability to communicate with the spirits of the dead! Join author Mirna El Mahdy in one of the most mysterious sessions and try to uncover the killer.

Ibn Battouta Prize: 25 Years of travels and stories

A session celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Ibn Battuta Prize for Travel Literature, exploring how this art form has become a cultural bridge connecting East and West, and reinterpreting the world through an Arab humanistic lens, with Poet and thinker Nouri Al-Jarrah, General Director of the Prize, joins Dr Naima Al Hosani, Tim Mackintosh-Smith, and Dr Ahmad Barqawi.

Shamma Al Bastaki: Stories From Old Dubai

Join award-winning Emirati poet Shamma Al Bastaki for a lyrical journey through old Dubai. Using House to House and oral histories, she explores memory, language, and storytelling to preserve the city’s heritage.

In Conversation With Dr Ali bin Tamim

A deep intellectual exploration by HE Dr Ali Bin Tamim in his new book Eyes of Wonders, which awakens Al-Mutanabbi from his slumber and reveals his genius as the true inventor of Arabic poetic and philosophical wonder.

From The Ocean to The Gulf: Tales of Arabic Cities

We meet with writers Salha Obaid and Saud Alsanousi to reflect on Arab cities as they are lived not as they are imagined. Cities that conceal layers of voices, memories, and the stories of passersby in their corners.

Desert Stanzas

Desert Stanzas is the Festival’s crowning jewel, celebrating poetry, music, and performance under the stars.

Exploring Comics in the UAE

Join artists and creatives Nora Zeid, Jane Pica, Manar Laham, and Mohammad Yousuf AlShaibani for a look at the UAE’s growing comics scene.

Al Owais Celebration

Marking the centenary of his birth, the Emirates Literature Foundation celebrates the legacy of the Emirati poet and prominent civic figure Sultan bin Ali Al Owais. The session revisits key chapters of his life and cultural and humanitarian journey, and highlights his pioneering role in supporting Arab creativity through his leading cultural foundation. A special session that recalls his profound impact on the literary and national landscapes.

Speakers: H.E. Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Dr. Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, and writer Yousef Alhassan.

Ebtisam Al-Beiti: Fly, Red, Fly

Join Emirati author Ebtisam Al-Beiti for Fly, Red, Fly! - a fun, interactive reading and puppet show following a little dragon’s uplifting adventure of courage, confidence, and soaring dreams.

HE Reem Al Hashimy: When Ground Shifts

When Ground Shifts tells the story of ambition, vision, and building a global legacy. Join UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, HE Reem Al Hashimy, as she shares the triumphs, challenges, and strategies behind Expo 2020 Dubai.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: Life Taught Me

A session celebrating “HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: Life Taught Me”, a book offering the essence of six decades of leadership and wisdom. The discussion, led by HE Dr Khalifa Ali Al Suwaidi and HE General Lieutenant Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, highlights an inspiring narrative that affirms investment in people as the foundation of nation-building.

In Conversation With Abdulla Al Anazi

Abdulla Al anazi is a poet who reimagines poetry in a distinctive style, engaging the audience, telling stories, and revealing what rhymes often conceal. In this session, we meet him for a conversation about poetry as a vessel of Arab memory, and how captivating performance can revive ancient verse.

Al Jazeera Al Hamra: A Living Legacy in the Heart of Ras Al Khaimah

Journey through Al Jazeera Al Hamra’s rich past, from pearl-diving roots to modern restoration. Discover how this coastal town’s architecture and history embody the UAE’s spirit and enduring heritage.