Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

The bestselling Saudi Arabian author Abdullah Al Maghlooth holds a PhD in Digital Media at the Read More

Emirati writer, novelist and social researcher. He wrote four novels: Espresso, Panision, Read More

Abdullah Alhedeyyeh Alshehhi is an Emirati poet who has written many poems, songs and operas Read More

He is considered one of the first novelists in the Gulf to write in the sci-fiction, Read More

Adel Ali Mohammed Alsumaiti is an Emirati crime writer whose novels include The Legend’s Read More

Aditi Belame Kumar was born in Bangalore, South India. She migrated with her parents to the UAE Read More

Afra Atiq is an Emirati award-winning poet. Afra has been featured across the globe and has Read More

Palestinian award-winning author of poetry, picture books, short stories, novels and TV and Read More

Ahmad AlShugairi is a Saudi Arabian media figure. He is best known for his program “Khawatir”. Read More

Alannah Hill is an Australian fashion designer. She opened up her first boutique in 1997 and Read More

Alexandra Maia is the CEO and Founder of House of Social. Her experience in digital social Read More

Allison K Williams is a guerrilla memoirist, essay writer and travel journalist who has written Read More

The wife and husband writing duo, Ambrose Parry, consists of bestselling author Chris Brookmyre Read More

Amna Al Mansouri is the Emirati author of the bestselling novel Your Eyes Hamda. She has also Read More

A Tunisian poet born in 1982, known for his poem Peace Upon You, which achieved great success Read More

Annabel Kantaria is a British journalist and author. Winning the 2013 Montegrappa Writing Read More

Anuradha Vijayakrishnan is an author and poet. She has won many prizes at various literature Read More

Ashis Ray is an award-winning broadcaster and journalist. He is the longest serving Indian Read More

Asma Kalban is an Emirati children’s literature writer who is fond of nature, with a Read More

Awad Al Darmaki is an Emirati writer and poet who holds an MBA in Executive Leadership from San Read More

Aziz Mohammed is a Saudi Arabian writer who has written poetry, short stories, film reviews and Read More

A Kuwaiti children’s writer, Basemah has  published 11 books, is a member of the Read More

Born in Beirut, Bassam Chebaro is a graduate of American University of Beirut in Business in Read More

Ben Lyttleton is a London-based football journalist, consultant and author for adults and Read More

Bilal Orfali, Ph.D. (2009), Yale University, is Chairperson and Associate Professor of Arabic Read More

Kuwaiti author and founder of “Takween” platform a space for performance, books and a school Read More

Brandy Scott is the co-host of The Business Breakfast of Dubai Eye 103.8. Brandy’s career has Read More

Butheina Kazim is the founder of Cinema Akil, programming repertory cinema programmes across Read More

Cassandra Clare is the best-selling author of the series The Shadowhunter Chronicles, which Read More

Charles Cumming was born in Scotland in 1971. Shortly after university he was approached for Read More

Chitra Soundar is the author of many children’s books that retell folktales from around the Read More

Chris Brookmyre is a Scottish novelist whose novels mix comedy, politics and social comment Read More

Chris Gardner is a businessman, motivational speaker and philanthropist. Chris is the author of Read More

Cixin Liu is an award-winning Chinese science fiction writer. As a representative of the new Read More

A former British police officer, Clare Mackintosh is now a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her Read More

Colette graduated from Strathclyde University in Glasgow with an Honours Law Degree before Read More

Courtney Brandt is an American author who writes about food and travel. Brandt’s adult Read More

Dana is the youngest Emirati to train with NASA and is involved in programmes in the fields of Read More

Dana Dajani is an award-winning Palestinian writer, performer, and activist. She has performed Read More

Daniela Tully has been working in the field of storytelling for decades, mainly in film and Read More

Dame Darcey Bussell is an English retired ballerina and a judge on the BBC television dance Read More

Dawn Metcalfe is an executive coach, facilitator, trainer and leadership advisor. Metcalfe Read More

A great love for mystery and romance coupled with an astute ability to observe and interpret Read More

Douglas Coupland is a Canadian novelist and artist recognised for his works in design and Read More

Dubai Abulhoul Alfalasi is the author of Galagolia, the first Emirati fantasy novel in English. Read More

American Edward Winterhalder is the world’s leading authority on motorcycle clubs and outlaw Read More

Fabi Santiago is a Brazilian children’s illustrator. After doing her masters in Children’s Book Read More

Fadi Hammadeh is the General Counsel for the Al Futtaim Group, UAE based attorney, author and Read More

Fadi Zaghmout is a Jordanian author, gender activist and blogger who recently published a new Read More

A Saudi writer and novelist, born in 1987 and currently living in Kuwait. He has written five Read More

Farah Ali is from Karachi, Pakistan. Her poems have appeared in Versal and Glass: A Journal of Read More

Francesca Affleck has lived in Dubai since 2007 and has worked as a Senior Leader at schools in Read More

Frank Dullaghan is an Irish writer living and working in Dubai. Dullaghan’s poetry has been Read More

Gamze Hakli Geray is a published author, psychotherapist and counsellor based in the UAE, with Read More

Gaurav Sinha established Insignia Worldwide in 2003 and is the founder of Quillon Hospitality. Read More

Named as one of the top 100 most influential people in Europe by Wired Magazine, Gerd Leonhard Read More

Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation at University of Sharjah, holds a Read More

Dr Giles Yeo is a geneticist with over 20 years’ experience dedicated to researching the Read More

Gillian Cross is a British author of children’s books best known for The Demon Headmaster Read More

Greg Mosse is a ‘writer and encourager of writers’ who has published six plays, three novels Read More

Hala Al Bassar is young bilingual theater actress and voice talent. She was introduced to the Read More

Hanan Sayed Worell is a specialist in the formulation and development of complex international Read More

Hananah Zaheer is a short story writer.  Her work has appeared in several literary magazines Read More

Harriet Muncaster is the author and illustrator of young reader book series, Isadora Moon. Read More

Hazzaa AlMansoori is one of the first selected astronauts in the UAE Astronaut Programme, Read More

Emirati author, winner of Sheikh Zayed Book Award 2018 for her children’s book The Dinoraffe. Read More

Hind Shoufani is a Palestinian filmmaker and writer, currently based between Beirut, Dubai and Read More

Holly Black is an American writer and editor, known for the children’s fantasy books The Read More

Huzama Habayeb is a Palestinian storyteller, novelist and prize winner of Naguib Mahfouz Medal Read More

Ian Rankin is best known for his police procedural detective fiction Inspector Rebus novels, Read More

A scriptwriter, filmmaker and crime fiction writer. He graduated from United Arab Emirates Read More

Iman Ben Chaibah is the founder of Sail Publishing and editor in chief of the Emirati Sail Read More

Novelist Jaafar Salman Bahraini started writing for local newspapers when he was fourteen years Read More

A Lebanese writer, he obtained a PhD in comparative literature from the New Sorbonne Read More

His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb serves as Cultural Advisor to the Government of Dubai. Since Read More

James J. Owens is a professor of communication at the University Of Southern California Read More

Dr Jane Hawking, Stephen Hawking’s wife for over twenty years, is a writer and lecturer.Read More

Jasper Fforde is a British novelist who debuted with his first novel, The Eyre Affair, in 2001. Read More

Jeff Kinney is an American cartoonist, producer and author of children’s books, most famously Read More

Swedish author Jessica Jarlvi’s debut novel was selected Fiction Book of the Year by Magrudy’s Read More

Jo Cantello is the director and founder of Wolfsong Media, a London-based TV, film and literary Read More

Jon Burgerman is an English-born, New York based artist. Jon studied Fine Art at The Nottingham Read More

Joshua Seigal is an award-winning poet, performer and educator who uses poetry to develop Read More

As a child Julia Johnson loved dressing up and making up stories! Her life has revolved around Read More

Karen is a best-selling author. Her debut novel, The Good Mother, won the Emirates Airline Read More

Kate Pankhurst is known for her series of children’s picture books. She studied illustration in Read More

Kate Young is a London-based food writer and cook. She moved to the UK from Australia and Read More

Katherine Ormerod is the editor of Work Work Work, the anti-perfectionist platform and content Read More

Kathy Hoopmann has written over twenty books for children and adults, with translations into Read More

Keith Stuart is an author and journalist. Stuart’s debut novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, was a Read More

Khaled Al Jabri is an Emirati cartoonist, and comics author. He has published four novels for Read More

Brigadier Khalid Nasser Alrazooqi acts as the General Director of Artificial Intelligence at Read More

Kim A. Page is a communication expert who has helped thousands of professionals get their Read More

Kristin Sherry is a career consultant, author, speaker, Founder of Virtus Career Consulting, Read More

Lalage Snow is an award-winning freelance photojournalist, writer and filmmaker. Lalage has Read More

Leo Carew is a 26-year-old Cambridge graduate of Biological Anthropology. Aside from writing, Read More

Leon McCarron is a Northern Irish storyteller and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Read More

Leona graduated from Limerick School of Art & Design, Ireland, with a first-class BA (Hons) Read More

Lewis Dartnell is an author, presenter and Professor of Science Communication at the University Read More

Lewis Hyde is a poet, essayist, translator and cultural critic. Hyde is the author of modern Read More

Lina Tarakji is a Freelance Translator & Writer who specialises in translating documents Read More

LionHeart is a BBC Radio London Presenter, TEDx Speaker, award-winning poet and International Read More

Lucy Siegle is a writer and TV presenter specialising in environmental issues and ethical Read More

Luigi Bonomi is a literary agent who has launched the careers of many bestselling authors. He Read More

Maitha Al Khayat is a member of a new breed of superheroes. The mother of five is one of the Read More

HE Dr Majid Al Qassimi is Director of Animal Health and Development at the Read More

Malachy Tallack is a writer, editor and singer-songwriter from Scotland. Malachy is the author Read More

Mana’a Al Maeeni is an Emirati author. He has published a number of books including Read More

Manar Abdul Qader Al Hammadi is a researcher in the field of disability who has developed a Read More

Dr Mansoor Anwar Habib (Author of the Arabic Publication “Carpenter’s Door is Read More

Dr Marisa Haetzman is a consultant anesthetist of twenty years’ experience. She is also the Read More

Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler are an Emmy Award-winning screenwriting duo who have scripted a Read More

Martin Puchner is a literary critic and philosopher. As a critic, his main focus is on Read More

Matt Dickinson is a writer and film-maker best known for his documentary work for National Read More

Maya Fidawi is a children’s illustrator. After studying paintings and sculpting graduating from Read More

Melanie has been practicing yoga for 11 years and teaching for nearly six. She discovered the Read More

Mira Manek is giving Indian food a facelift, making it lighter, brighter and healthier with her Read More

Mohamed Al Marzooqi is an Emirati writer interested in cultural and literary affairs. He has Read More

Mohamed Parham Al Awadhi is the co-founder of Qabeela New Media and produced, directed and Read More

Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri was born in 1961 and serves as the Director General of Read More

Mona Yakzan is an award-winning Lebanese/Cypriot artist. She has won several awards and most Read More

Murzban F. Shroff is a Mumbai-based writer. He has published his fiction stories in more than60 Read More

Nabiha Mheidly founder and director of Al Hadaek Publishing house, which specializes in Read More

Nadifa Mohamed was born in Hargeisa, Somalia in 1981 and studied History and Politics at Read More

Nasser Assi is one of the leading specialists in the printing and book production field. He is Read More

Dr. Nathan H. Lents is Professor of Biology and Director of the Honors Programs at John Jay Read More

Neil Hewison grew up in England, and has  a BA in Language from the University of York. From Read More

Mark Huckerby and Nick Ostler are an Emmy Award-winning screenwriting duo who have scripted a Read More

Nicola Morgan is a multi-award-winning author and international expert on teenage brains and Read More

Nicola Tallis has worked as a curator, lecturer and historical researcher after receiving her Read More

Oussama Ibrahim has worked as a copywriter and translator for more than 13 years and also works Read More

Pamela Butchart has always loved children’s books, but never thought she could write her own Read More

Patricia Millns is a British artist, avant-garde aficionado and advisor. She has had a studio Read More

Patricia Vigderman’s most recent book is The Real Life of the Parthenon (Ohio State Read More

Paul Evans is the co-founder and managing director at Solutions Leisure. A passionate, Read More

Paulo Lemos Horta is the author of Marvellous Thieves: Secret Authors of the Arabian Nights, Read More

Peter Dale spent 25 years teaching Mathematics in Dubai College until his retirement in 2013. Read More

Peter Frankopan is a British historian and professor of Global History at Oxford University, Read More

Peyman Parham Al Awadhi is the co-founder of Qabeela New Media and produced, directed and Read More

Pierce Brown is a science fiction author and screenwriter, known for his Red Rising series. Red Read More

Rachel Hamilton’s debut novel, The Case of the Exploding Loo, was runner up in the 2013 Read More

The founder of Dubai’s Women’s Museum and a high-achieving leader among Arab women, Dr Rafia Read More

Dr. Raja Easa Al Gurg, Managing Director of the Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group LL, is a well-known Read More

Children’s author Rania spent several years working as a TV director, producer and writer, Read More

Rasha Al Duwaisan is an oral historian based in Dubai.  She chronicled the lives of the Kuwaiti Read More

Ravi Shankar has published or edited over a dozen books, including the Muse India Read More

Rawan Dabbas is the Head of International Relations at the Emirates Publishers Association Read More

An avid observer of history and the many cross-cultural connections it unearths, Rehan Khan, Read More

Richard Baldwin is a Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Read More

Richard Dean is one of Dubai’s leading broadcasters, journalists and public speakers. Host of Read More

Robin Stevens is the author of the bestselling and award-winning Murder Most Unladylike Read More

Ross Montgomery has written award-winning children’s books such as Alex, The Dog & The Read More

Roudha Al Marri is a modern Emirati who lives to travel the world. She is a vegan and a Read More

Rowan Hooper is Managing Editor of New Scientist magazine. For over ten years, he’s written Read More

Dr Saeed Abdullah Al Madhloum is the author of Manager’s Pet, a collection of articles on Read More

Salem Al Marri is the Assistant Director General for Scientific and Technical Affairs, Mohammed Read More

Sally Helgesen is a best-selling author, speaker and leadership coach, cited in Forbes as the Read More

Samuel I. Schwartz is an award-winning American transportation engineer, the President, CEO and Read More

Sandhya Menon was born and raised in India on a steady diet of Bollywood movies and street Read More

Sara Sadik, a Palestinian/Lebanese energetic mom of 3 puzzle pieces who delivers her distinct Read More

Saud Alsanousi is a Kuwaiti journalist and novelist, winner of the International Prize for Read More

Selina Tusitala Marsh is a Pasifika poet-scholar who is currently the New Zealand Poet Laureate Read More

With a background of strategic communications planning, Shadi Al Hasan is renowned for brand Read More

Iraqi author considered as the youngest woman author to be shortlisted for the International Read More

Egyptian author and Literary critic, Shereen works as part-time professor in Arabic Literature Read More

Egyptian self-development author, editorial cartoonist, editor of the Happiness Page in Al Read More

Sue Nelson is an award-winning science journalist and broadcaster, formerly a BBC TV science Read More

Founder of Susan Mears Literacy Agency, Susan Mears is an experienced editor and publisher. Read More

Dr Talal Aljunaibi is an Emirati poet and author. He recently published UAE in the Heart, which Read More

Kuwaiti author, journalist and Founder & Chairman of Cultural Circle in Kuwait and Read More

Taran found a passion for reading at a very early age. His love for stories developed into a Read More

Tarek El Bolbol is a Dubai-based Lebanese-Canadian entrepreneur with a passion for the written Read More

Thalia Suzuma is the Managing Editor for The Dreamwork Collective, a print and digital Read More

Tishani Doshi publishes poetry, fiction and essays. Her most recent book is a collection of Read More

Tom McLaughlin is an author and illustrator who primarily works in publishing and animation Read More

Tony Blackburn is an English disc jockey and was the first to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 at its Read More

Tony De Saulles is an award-winning children’s author and illustrator, with a background in Read More

Trine Hahnemann is a Danish food writer and chef. As the owner and CEO of Hahnemanns Køkken she Read More

Ty Tashiro is an author, psychologist and relationship expert. An award-winning professor at Read More

Victoria Aveyard is a young adult and fantasy fiction author, best known for her Red Queen Read More

Vince Beiser is the award-winning author of The World in a Grain: The Story of Sand and How It Read More

Wendy Yorke is a Literary Agent, Editor, Book Writing Coach, Author and International Speaker. Read More

You Jung Byun grew up in the United States, Korea and Japan. Moving around a lot as a child and Read More

Zeina Hashem Beck is a Lebanese poet. Her most recent collection, Louder than Hearts, won the Read More

Zelda la Grange is a former private secretary to Nelson Mandela. Zelda was born in South Africa Read More