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Bestselling authors head to Dubai for Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature

A host of bestselling authors like Paulo Coelho and Kate Adie are heading to Dubai for the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature.

  • By Alice Johnson, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 16:31 June 10, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Isobel Abulhoul, Director of the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature and bookshop chain Magrudy’s.
  • Image Credit: Supplied picture
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Dubai: A host of bestselling authors are heading to Dubai next year, for the Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature (EAIFL).

Confirmed authors include Paulo Coelho, renowned BBC journalist Kate Adie, explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, journalist Rageh Omaar, children's laureate Anne Fine, Jung Chang and Khalid Alkhamissi.

Isobel Abulhoul, director of EAIFL and co-founder of regional bookstore Magrudy's said: "One of the key issue of the festival in Dubai is literacy and education; because if we can get young people to enjoy reading, meet authors and have a chance to interact and meet with them, see the person behind the book, this will start a love and different view of books.

"There are millions of people in Dubai who I think will relish the idea of a literature festival at their doorstep, bringing people from all over the world for seminars, debates and all the things I think make a good festival of literature," she said.

EAIFL will run from February 26 to March 1, 2009, and will have a dedicated education day, encouraging literacy among younger generations. It is due to be held at Dubai Festival City.

The festival will include renowned English language writers, European authors and also writers that have published books in Arabic. Arabic-language authors attending the festival will be announced at a later date.

Kate Adie OBE, who worked extensively for the BBC in numerous war zones, said: "The festival is very much an exchange of ideas. It's very important to have local authors to talk about their books and what they write about. It's hugely important to hold panel talks and conferences for people to speak about their books and writing in Arabic."

Entrance to the Festival will be free of charge, with ticketed events including creative writing and poetry workshops, calligraphy classes, debates, seminars and conferences.

According to the Arab League Educational Cultural and Scientific Organisation, 100 million people across the Arab world are unable to read or write.

The inaugural is being organised in conjunction with the Dubai Arts & Culture Authority (DACA).

Salah Al Qasim, advisor to DACA said: "This festival will form an integral part of the ongoing development of the UAE's cultural offerings."

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