Message from the Festival Director

It is hard to believe that we are again busy planning the lineup of fabulous authors for the third year of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

For a young and growing festival, we have made enormous leaps, I believe, with thanks to the tireless and essential support of our sponsors and our community.

2011 will serve to establish our literary festival firmly on the international calendar and our past and present authors are certainly spreading the word about Dubai far and wide.

What has been fascinating for me is that as authors accept invitations to attend, the festival almost takes on a life of its own with the team acting as the gate keepers!

Several fascinating strands are developing that will certainly lead to key and important discussions and talks on matters that affect us all – future editions will reveal more about these.

I think that the power of a festival such as ours is the special opportunity to hear writers’ opinions live, up close and personal, and to join in with our own views, never quite knowing where the debate will lead.

It is invigorating, exciting, refreshing and definitely full of buzz…

So that is what I feel is coming and yes, we are being carried along on the festival wave! Save the dates March 8-12 2011 – there’s a lot more excitement to come!

- Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director

Tim Mackintosh-Smith at Magrudy's, Ibn Battuta Mall: September 28

In response to numerous requests from Festival-goers to extend the Festival of Literature programme across the year, we are delighted to announce our first ever standalone Festival event.
 
On the evening of 28th September, Magudy’s, the official bookshop of the Festival of Literature, will host an evening of travel tales and captivating conversation at their shop in Ibn Battuta Mall, with best-selling author and modern day Lawrence of Arabia, Tim Mackintosh Smith.   

Tim’s first book, Yemen: Travels in Dictionary Land, won the 1998 Thomas Cook/Daily Telegraph Travel Book Award and is now regarded as a classic of Arabian description. His two books on Ibn Battuta's adventures in the old Islamic world and in India, Travels with a Tangerine and The Hall of a Thousand Columns, were received to huge critical acclaim. His journeys in search of Ibn Battuta have also been turned into a major BBC television series that has enthralled viewers round the globe.  

Tim will be unveiling the latest book in his Ibn Battuta series, entitled Landfalls, as well as giving listeners an insight into his travelling experiences.  The event will be free but seating is restricted so please RSVP to gina.cledera@emirateslitfest.com by 21st September to reserve your seat.  Magrudy’s Gold Card holders and Festival Friends will receive priority seating so don’t forget to give us your membership number.

Check out the 28 authors who are already confirmed for the 2011 line-up

Proof that the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has quickly established itself as one of the leading Festivals on the international calendar, we can now reveal more of the authors who are already lined up to appear in Dubai from 8th – 12th March 2011.

In addition to the names we announced in March, the ten latest additions include the novelists Susan Abulhawa, Louise Doughty, Aminatta Forna and Laila Lalami; the broadcaster and author Lynne Truss; Sunday Times correspondent Christina Lamb; the Tunisian poet and journalist Ines Abassi, and the Arabist & travel writer Tim Mackintosh-Smith. Returning from the 2010 Litfest are British crime writer Mark Billingham and the Emirati poet – and editor of Al Bayan – Dha’en Shaheen.

Many more new names – and a few more familiar faces too – will be announced in the coming months.

Check out our Authors page for more details about all authors announced so far.

Festival Friends: back and better than ever!

Would you like to become a more active supporter of the Festival?  Our Festival Friends scheme was launched in 2010 as a way for dedicated Festival-goers to support the ongoing development of the Festival. We have been working on an improved offer for Friends, based on member feedback from the 2010 Festival.

Membership lasts for 12 months from the date of purchase, and costs AED120 for single membership, AED180 for couples membership and AED240 for family membership. Existing members can sign up for complimentary membership for 2011.  In return, members receive:

•    10% off all tickets: Enjoy a discount on your choice of events when you use your registered account to purchase tickets.

•    7 days priority booking for you and your guests: Purchase tickets online before the general public and get first view of the Festival Programme

•    Festival Friends Lounge: Where you can relax between sessions, with comfortable seating, tea, coffee and snacks, customer service staff to provide any assistance you may need, and a concierge service offering early entry to events

•    NEW Exclusive members’ events: Special events at the Festival and throughout the year, including opportunities to meet visiting authors

•    Regular Festival Updates: Including session previews, Festival Director’s picks, first look at new developments and the latest authors to sign up

•    Calendar Updates: We will update you by email and SMS in the event of any programme changes

Would you like to become a Festival Friend? Click here.