Festival Venues

CARAVANSERAI

The desert is where it all began. Bedouin tribes would gather around the fire sharing stories and poems, and keeping the connection between the past, the present, and the future alive generation after generation. This year, the LitFest’s opening ceremony invites old friends (and new) to join us as we gather out in the desert for an unforgetable night of poetry, music, and performance, featuring an exciting line-up of local and international talent in a traditional Emirati setting.

OPENING CEREMONY MAP

The opening ceremony of the 2023 Emirates LitFest will take place out among the dunes of Caravanserai. Ticket holders will be treated to a thrilling night of poetry, music, and performance under the stars

VISITING CARAVANSERAI

The easiest and most sustainable way to get to the LitFest’s signature event. Simply arrive at the designated location at one of the two pick-up times mentoned on your ticket and board one of our LitFest’s buses, which will bring you directly to the event and back again.

Dubai has plenty of taxis, which can be booked by phone. But the simplest way is to download the Careem or S’hail apps. Through the Careem app, you can also book ‘Hala Taxi’, which is Dubai’s most affordable taxi.

If you’re driving to the LitFest, please use Google Maps or a mapping service of your choosing to guide yourself there. Parking is available at Caravanserai.

INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL IN FESTIVAL CITY

Return to the original home of the Emirates LitFest as we celebrate our 15th anniversary from 1-6 February. Join us for a six full days of author talks, panel discussions, special events, and more as the main part of our programme unfolds at this venue. As part of our bid to keep literature accessible to everyone, the Fringe Stage will also return, complete with unforgettable performances from students all over the country.

FESTIVAL MAP

Events will take place throughout the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel, on the waterfront floor, and in tents outside. Maps will be available throughout the venue and our volunteers will also be able to guide you to where you need to go.

VISITING THE LITFEST

The most sustainable way to get to the LitFest. You can arrive at the Festival using either one of the major Metro lines:

• Take the Dubai Metro Red Line to the Emirates Metro Station, after which Festival City is just a 5-minute bus ride away using the F08 or 064A bus lines.
• Take the Dubai Metro Green Line to Creek Metro Station, after which the InterCon is just a 10-minute Abra ride away.

First arrivals to both Metro stations are at 06:15 on Monday to Saturday and 09:15 on Sunday. Last departures from both Metro stations are at 00:00 Sunday to Thursday and 01:00 Friday to Saturday.

Plan your trip by metro by downloading RTA’s S’hail app or check the RTA website for more details.

Dubai has plenty of taxis, which can be booked by phone. But the simplest way is to download the Careem or S’hail apps. Through the Careem app, you can also book ‘Hala Taxi’, which is Dubai’s most affordable taxi.

If you’re driving to the LitFest, please use Google Maps or a mapping service of your choosing to guide yourself there. Parking is available at the InterContinental Hotel or at the Dubai Festival City Mall.

MOHAMMED BIN RASHID LIBRARY

The latest landmark on Dubai’s cityscape pays homage to the UAE’s storied past while standing as a symbol of this country’s commitment to literature and the joys of reading being a part of its future. Therefore it’s only fitting that the LitFest holds its business and publishing sessions and workshops here, in the heart of Dubai’s business hub, and across from the main LitFest venue. Venture down to MBRL and play a role in the region’s literary ecosystem.

LIBRARY MAP

Events will take place throughout the library. Maps will be available throughout the venue and our volunteers will also be able to guide you to where you need to go.

VISITING THE LIBRARY

The fastest and most sustainable way to get to the library. Take the the Dubai Metro Green Line to Creek Metro Station after which the library is a few minutes away on foot. If you want to go to the InterContinental Hotel, it’s a 10-minute Abra ride away.

First arrivals to both Metro stations are at 06:15 on Monday to Saturday and 09:15 on Sunday. Last departures from both Metro stations are at 00:00 Sunday to Thursday and 01:00 Friday to Saturday.

Plan your trip by metro by downloading RTA’s S’hail app or check the RTA website for more details.

Dubai has plenty of taxis, which can be booked by phone. But the simplest way is to download the Careem or S’hail apps. Through the Careem app, you can also book ‘Hala Taxi’, which is Dubai’s most affordable taxi.

If you’re driving to the LitFest, please use Google Maps or a mapping service of your choosing to guide yourself there. Parking is available at the InterContinental Hotel or at the Dubai Festival City Mall.