The Edinburgh International Festival hosted a cultural exchange recently as Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) and the Emirates Literature Foundation (ELF) presented Footprints on the Sand of Time, a programme celebrating the poetic traditions of the United Arab Emirates and Scotland.
The event formed part of the Exporting Local Literary Talent initiative, which supports Emirati and UAE-based creatives in gaining exposure on international stages. Falling under the Dubai Cultural Grant programme, the initiative seeks to build networks for poets, authors and artists abroad while strengthening Dubai’s role as a global centre for creativity and cultural dialogue.
Shaima Rashed Al Suwaidi, CEO of the Arts, Design & Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, said the project reinforced the Authority’s commitment to expanding opportunities for homegrown voices. She highlighted the importance of building cultural bridges and supporting local creators in contributing to the wider international arts movement.
Ahlam Bolooki, CEO of the Emirates Literature Foundation, emphasised the role of poetry in connecting cultures. She described the initiative as a way of ensuring Emirati writers are recognised internationally while underscoring the shared values expressed through verse across different landscapes and traditions.
Held during Edinburgh’s month-long festival season, the programme featured two events. The first, an afternoon session at the Poetry Library of Scotland, was attended by senior cultural figures including Dr Harriet MacMillan, Director of the Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust; Claire De Braekeleer, incoming Director of British Council Scotland; and Norah Campbell, Head of Arts at the British Council Scotland.
The UAE was represented by poets Dr Afra Atiq, Ali Al Shaali and Shamma Al Bastaki, who performed alongside Scottish counterparts Peter Mackay, Scotland’s Makar; Michael Pedersen, Edinburgh Makar; and Scottish-Algerian poet Janette Ayachi. The performances incorporated English, Scottish Gaelic, Scots and Arabic, highlighting the strong oral traditions and ties to language and land central to both nations’ literary heritage.
A second, private evening reading was held at Gleneagles Townhouse, offering an intimate setting for select guests to experience the exchange.
