Prior to this year’s festival we sat down with Ahlam Bolooki, to learn more about the leading literature festival in the Middle East.
Since joining Emirates Literature Foundation over a decade ago, Ahlam Bolooki has seen the annual Emirates Airline Festival of Literature grow from a small regional event to an international calendar fixture, attracting thousands of guests and hosting some of the world’s most esteemed authors.
The 17th edition which is currently under way in Dubai is the largest yet, featuring engaging panels, hands-on activities, talks, educational experiences and more. The event has far exceeded expectations and now draws the eyes of the world’s creatives and literary industry, as well as those with a passion for reading and writing. This season is expected to be the most diverse yet, with a focus on multimedia, writing, poetry, and experiential activations that will further explore the world of literature and its ability to inspire educate and create. As the festival kicks off in Dubai, we talk to Alam Bolooki to find out more on what to expect.
What can we expect from the 2025 edition of the Emirates Lit Fest?
The 2025 edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature proves to be the most eclectic line-up to date, proving that there’s something for everyone—readers and non-readers alike. The Festival really embraces all genres and age levels, and has something for every interest. I think that people’s biggest challenge this year is picking from so many amazing sessions.
How do you feel the event has progressed since last year?
Our LitFest After Hours programme has really evolved this year to incorporate the more “off the beaten track” conversations and free live performances. These range from music to stand-up comedy from our talented pool of locally based performers, many of whom we have gotten to know through our monthly community nights. A lot of the sessions that fall under the After Hours banner are also experiential, meaning you can immerse yourself in the theme—everything from the art of making coffee to participating in a group meditative nap experience with Tricia Hersey.
We have also made sure that the festival is accessible to everyone with a diverse range of free-to-attend sessions. Aside from many of the After Hours sessions, we also have the Discovery Talks strand that brings speakers’ passions to the forefront in lecture-style talks, as well as some toddler-friendly sessions that are free and open for the entire family.
What highlights can you share from the programme?
There are too many to choose from, but I’ll pick a few:
Zeinab Badawi’s session on her book An African History of Africa is one I am looking forward to delving into. An opportunity to learn more about the continent as the cradle of civilisation, especially coming from someone who has bridged the two worlds of academia and journalism in her career.
Always a crowd pleaser, Jeff Kinney of Diary of a Wimpy Kid fame is bringing his show Hot Mess based on his newest successful series. This one is more of a theatrical experience rather than a book talk, so will be really fun and engaging for the whole family.
Taking place off-site at the Theatre of Digital Art, Poetry and Qanun Night brings together seven powerhouse poets from across the Arab world. Guests can expect awe-inspiring visuals and live music, alongside a poetic debate themed on love and passion.
Personally, I’m also looking forward to meeting Chigozie Obioma and Abraham Verghese – two acclaimed authors who have been so influential in bringing non-Western narratives to mainstream fiction.
How is the event supporting Emirati talent this year?
Dubai Culture is supporting this year’s Emirati Strand, which celebrates the culture of the UAE and provides an opportunity for local and international authors to grace the Emirates LitFest stage together. The Emirati Strand features a diverse range of experiences and a distinguished lineup of Emirati writers including poet Adel Khozam, Dr Noura Alkarbi, artist Asmaa Al Remithi, poet Ali Al Shaali, author and scholar Salha Ghabish, author and trainer Hamdan Bin Shfayan Alameri, author Nadia Al Najjar, filmmaker Nahla Al Fahad, and many more.
You have been working with the festival for many years now – what are some of the achievements that come to mind when you think back?
It really has been such a fruitful and rewarding journey. There are so many beautiful moments to celebrate—from moderating a session with one of my favourite authors, Elif Shafak, to witnessing Dr. Sultan Al Neyadi launch his book and talk about his trip to space with hundreds of students.
As I have grown alongside the festival, expanding my responsibilities from Director to Chief Executive Officer in 2023, it truly feels like home – so bringing my own young daughter to her first Festival session last year was a real full-circle moment.
How do you think the festival has helped to elevate Dubai’s place in the industry on a global scale?
Emirates LitFest is a fixture in the regional landscape for Arab and non-Arab authors. It really has become the go-to event for rising and emerging names to grace the stage and meet their readers. It’s where writers can find mentors and where schoolchildren can meet their first international author to get their favourite book signed. This is synonymous with Dubai and its commitment to supporting the creative industries and culture.
Can you tell us about some of the female authors taking part this year?
Quite a few of the highlights I already touched on are thanks to female authors, but we also go beyond literary authors to women in leadership – with such writers as Maha Abouelenein, Jessamy Hibberd and Su Bridgman. On the 250th birthday of Jane Austen, we celebrate her legacy with a session led by Laaleen Sukhera, who’s a locally based author and the president of the Jane Austen Society of the Middle East. The Debutants is a panel that celebrates stars to watch; Julie Min, Sara Hamdan and Emily Dunlay. And last but not least, there’s the poets and storytellers participating in our annual Desert Stanzas night: Safiya Sinclair, Asmaa Azaizeh, Khairani Barokka and Shamma Albastaki.
In the digital age – how do you think the approach to literature has changed?
In this era, we are so often on-the-go and tied to our devices that we have no choice but to embrace technology and read in non-traditional ways. I may be reading a book before bed, but also listening to another one during my daily commute – so it’s about finding more ways to consume literature.
We noticed several talks and programmes focused on writing this year – why was it important to explore this?
It’s simple. You can’t have readers without writers. So, we need to continue nurturing emerging voices through workshops and talks that explore the process.
What is a great book you have read recently?
I just finished reading Syrian American journalist Hala Gorani’s book, But You Don’t Look Arab. I have been a fan of hers for so long and watched her on CNN. She has always been such a trailblazer and tells her story with wit and humour, despite the challenges she faced along the way.
What’s something you would still like to achieve with the festival?
Because Dubai is such a transient city, there continues to be new audiences for us to capture and raise awareness. We have to keep presenting new offerings and authors for our loyal festival-goers who have been with us 17 years and counting, as well as introducing our worldclass Festival to tourists and long-term residents alike.
What’s a message for our readers as to why they should visit this year?
We really do bring amazing authors and moderators to the festival. And even if you are not familiar with a speaker beforehand, I promise you will walk out of any session thinking about it, inspired, and with a chance to meet your new favourite author up close.
