Omar Saif Ghobash, left, and Noura Al Kaabi will appear in the final Literary Conversations Across Borders session.
Omar Saif Ghobash, left, and Noura Al Kaabi will appear in the final Literary Conversations Across Borders session.
Omar Saif Ghobash, left, and Noura Al Kaabi will appear in the final Literary Conversations Across Borders session.
Omar Saif Ghobash, left, and Noura Al Kaabi will appear in the final Literary Conversations Across Borders session.

Literary Conversations Across Borders: Noura Al Kaabi and Omar Saif Ghobash to headline final session


Emma Day
  • English
  • Arabic

As Roman philosopher Cicero once famously said, a room without books is like a body without a soul.

And if you've ever wanted to know what reads decorate the rooms of some of the UAE's most renowned names, now's your chance.

Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, and Omar Saif Ghobash, Assistant Minister for Culture and Public Diplomacy, will reveal their literary influences in the final session of Literary Conversations Across Borders.

The virtual series, organised by the Office of Culture and Public Diplomacy and the Emirates Literature Foundation, started in May with the aim of promoting "international cultural understanding" through the power of books and words.

Previous sessions featured the likes of Indian politician and writer Shashi Tharoor; English primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall; and UAE Minister of State Zaki Nusseibeh taking part in live panels.

In the final session of the eight-part programme, titled The Power of Books, Al Kaabi and Ghobash will open up about the books that have helped shape their lives.

They will be joined in the free webinar by Isobel Abulhoul, chief executive and trustee of the Emirates Literature Foundation.

The session will be live-streamed on Saturday, at 7.30pm UAE time. The Zoom panel will be held in English, with a simultaneous Arabic translation.

The first seven sessions of Literary Conversations Across Borders have reached more than 8,000 people in 63 countries, with all panels available to view on the Emirates Literature Foundation YouTube channel.

“The reach of this project has been impressive, with a far greater impact than we had originally anticipated," said Nusseibeh.

“Discussions have ranged from the pandemic’s effect on our future, in terms of world politics, sustainability and food security, to lively discussions on religion versus science and the changing face of journalism."

To register to watch the final session live, visit www.elfdubai.org/en/literary-conversations-across-borders

Retail gloom

Online grocer Ocado revealed retail sales fell 5.7 per cen in its first quarter as customers switched back to pre-pandemic shopping patterns.

It was a tough comparison from a year earlier, when the UK was in lockdown, but on a two-year basis its retail division, a joint venture with Marks&Spencer, rose 31.7 per cent over the quarter.

The group added that a 15 per cent drop in customer basket size offset an 11.6. per cent rise in the number of customer transactions.

Tips to avoid getting scammed

1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour