More than 70 authors confirmed for 2010 Dubai literary festival
Confirmed authors include Fadhil Al Azzawi, Kate Adie, Samer Abu Hawwash, Martin Amis and William Dalrymple
Dubai: More than 70 authors of 17 different nationalities will be attending the 2010 Emirates Airline International Festival of Literature (EAIFL).
The announcement was made at a ‘literary majlis’ on Tuesday evening, which included five readings from prominent authors.
Dubai-based author Maha Gargash kicked off the evening with a reading from her novel The Sand Fish, while British author Julia Johnson read from the Pearl Diver and Emirati poet Nujoom Al Ghanem read from School Poems. Professor Yousuf Ziedan also read from his Arabic work Azazil.
Abu-Dhabi based Leila Aboulela read from The Minaret.
Aboulela told Gulf News that last year’s festival was a great success: “It was wonderful, I really, really loved it."
Confirmed authors for next year's event include Fadhil Al Azzawi, Kate Adie, Turki Al Hamad, Samuel Shimon, Ahdaf Soueif,
Deputy Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) Mohammad Al Murr gave an opening speech: EAIFL is held under the patronage of Dubai Culture.
Isobel Aboulhoul, Festival Director, said: “We took notes from last year’s festival and have increased the number of children’s authors for 2010.”
A new scheme for festival-goers has also been launched for 2010. ‘Festival Friends’ is a membership scheme with benefits such as ticket discounts, fast-track ticket reservation, newsletters and a dedicated ‘Festival Friends’ area at the festival itself.
EAIFL will run from March 10-13, 2010.
