Program Details Released for Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

The Emirates Literature Foundation has unveiled the lineup and program details for the 17th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, taking place from January 29th to February 3rd, 2025, at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City.

The festival will feature over 150 events, including author talks, panel discussions and workshops, alongside unique programs such as Desert Stanzas, a night of poetry readings in the desert, and LitFest After Hours, offering performances, games and activities. The LitFest Families program will also provide engaging sessions for young readers.

This year’s highlights include US-Indian author Abraham Verghese, whose novel, ‘The Covenant of Water’, became a bestseller after being selected for Oprah’s book club. Nobel laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah, known for his exploration of identity, colonialism and displacement, will also be in attendance. Young audiences can look forward to sessions with ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’ author Jeff Kinney, and ‘Lemony Snicket’ creator Daniel Handler.

The festival will feature Arab voices like Algerian novelist Waciny Laredj, winner of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award for Literature, and Emirati poet Khalid Albudoor. The Bil Emirati segment, celebrating UAE culture, will bring together Emirati and international authors, including poet Adel Khozam, artist Asmaa Al Remithi, and filmmaker Nahla Al Fahad.