The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, one of the world’s most prestigious literary events, is celebrating the triumph of its 14th edition, which demonstrated recovery from the pandemic’s impacts and saw record numbers of competition entries. In total, more than 105,000 individuals participated in the festival, either in person or online.
During the Festival’s 11 days, a total of 181 authors representing 47 nationalities graced the stage at the Habtoor City Hotels, with an even distribution of Arab and non-Arab authors and a 100 percent increase in author numbers from the previous year. The number of Emirati authors represented this year was also double that of the previous year.
The response from the audience on the spot was tremendously enthusiastic. According to the survey results, 64% of all respondents are repeat attendees, with 20% of these returning tourists having attended the event 10 times or more. According to the study, 94 percent of attendees were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the festival in five categories: speakers, range of events, atmosphere, ELF interaction, and venue, with respondents considering it as “amazing” and a “much needed festival.” “This excellent reaction is very wonderful for the team,” festival director Ahlam Bolooki said. “It’s wonderful to know that our show reflects the likes and interests of our devoted and ever-growing audience, and that our efforts have such a positive impact on people’s lives.
Boutros Boutros, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Marketing and Brand said, “The continuous success of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is a monument to the profound desire and enthusiasm for literature and the arts that so many people possess.” The festival honors the written word and rich storytelling traditions from the region and around the world, allowing readers to interact with veteran authors as well as rising talents. Emirates is happy to sponsor the festival since it brings individuals together to explore new vistas, exchange ideas, and discuss their future dreams.”
Dubai Culture supports this worldwide festival and strives to retain its position as a unique window for advancing the literature sector in the emirate and the UAE as a whole, in order to ensure a sustainable future for future generations. This is in line with our goal of establishing Dubai as a global center for culture, an incubator for innovation, a thriving talent hub, and a global center for the creative economy.”
The Festival is hosted by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, in collaboration with Founding Partners Emirates Airline and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated authority for heritage, arts, and culture, and under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.
