Established in 2013 by Royal Decree issued by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, the Foundation aims to foster a life-long love for all literature.
The Emirates Literature Foundation, home of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, is a not-for-profit organisation that supports and nurtures a love of literature in the UAE and across the region through a programme of varied cultural initiatives.
Recognising the distinctive contribution that literature makes to children’s lives, the Foundation focuses on introducing and cultivating a spirit of reading while acting as a catalyst for writing and cultural exchange.
The Foundation governs the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the UAE’s premier literary festival, which will be held from 1-10 March, 2018, and as part of its initiatives, has implemented a School Librarian of the Year Award, an annual Arabic Language Week, an International Translation Conference and Publishing Conference, as well as year-round School Education Programmes, Book Clubs and Creative Writing Courses.
History of the Foundation
The Emirates Literature Foundation was founded in 2013 following the life-long dream of Isobel Abulhoul OBE, the CEO of the Foundation.
Inspired by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the Foundation aims to break down barriers and encourage a culture of reading in the UAE.
In 2014, the Foundation moved to its new home in the Al Shindagha Historical Neighbourhood. At the Opening Night, Booker Prize-winning poet and author Ben Okri and Arabic science-fiction author Noura Al Noman addressed the 500-strong crowd of international authors, local dignitaries and supporters.
Also in attendance were several VIPs including HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, Chairman of the Emirates Literature Foundation, and HE Mohammed Al Murr, Chairman of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation and current Emirates Literature Foundation Trustee.
