With more than 100 events packed into five days, book lovers will be spoilt for choice at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which runs from March 3 to 7. Here are our favourites, a few of which are held outside the festival hub of InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Tickets are available at www.emirateslitfest.com
The War Horse Concert
Music, literature and theatre come together at this event featuring the renowned children's author Michael Morpurgo. He will read from his best-seller War Horse, while puppeteers will use hand puppets to depict the story, with music by John Tams.
• Wednesday, March 4, 7.30pm at The Cultural & Scientific Association at Al Mamzar, Dubai. Tickets cost Dh120
Desert Stanzas
Half-a-dozen world-class poets will recite from their works in a specially designed majlis at a Dubai desert camp, including the renowned Palestinian writer Mourid Barghouti; the acclaimed Indian poet Imitiaz Dharker; the UAE’s Saif Al Saadi; and last year’s crowd-favourite, Lemn Sissay from the UK. The event includes a buffet dinner – don’t forget warm clothing.
•Thursday, March 5, 7.30pm. Participants will be picked up at InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Tickets cost Dh375
The Orwell Lecture
For her commemorative speech, the Egyptian writer and activist Nawal El Saadawi will discuss the links between inspiration, creativity and social change, referencing the English author, essayist and critic George Orwell, writer of 1984 and Animal Farm. The lecture will also explore the joys and discomforts that come from creative pursuits.
• Saturday, March 7, 11.30am at InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Tickets cost Dh70
International Women’s Day: Make It Happen!
To commemorate Women’s Day, the renowned Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie will join British historian Bettany Hughes, BBC presenter Jenni Murray and Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of International Cooperation and Development, to discuss action that can be taken to increase the global recognition of women across all sectors.
• Saturday, March 7, 5pm at InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Tickets cost Dh70
Getting Away With Murder
This panel discussion about the global appeal of the crime and mystery-fiction genre will feature best-selling British authors Stuart MacBride and Sophie Hannah, Canada’s Peter Robinson and Iceland’s Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.
•Saturday, March 7, 1pm at InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Tickets cost Dh70
* Saeed Saeed
For the kids
The festival prides itself on being a must-see event for children, with a world-class list of authors and illustrators. Here are five events that are sure to inspire a love of reading in the young
Is There Any Such Thing as a Gruffalo?
She’s best known for her loveable monster the Gruffalo, but Julia Donaldson has written more than 150 children’s books. She brings some of her much-loved characters to life with help from her husband, Malcolm, on guitar.
• Saturday, March 7, 10am, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Recommended for ages 4+
Unlocking the Mysterious Treasure Chest of Illustration
Ever wondered how an illustrator creates the magical images on the pages of picture books? The talented Grahame Baker-Smith, creator of FArTHER and Leon and the Place Between, will reveal how words and pictures come together.
• Friday, March 6, 1pm, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Recommended for ages 8+
The 99: Re-inventing Superheroes!
Naif Al Mutawa, creator of the groundbreaking Muslim superhero comic-book series The 99, will discuss how he came up with the idea that led to an animated television series and praise from American President Barack Obama.
• Saturday, March 7, 1pm, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City
Fiction, Fantasy and The Arab World
Where do Arab fantasy writers find inspiration for the new worlds and characters they create? Find out from Emirati writer Lulwah Al Mansouri, who won the Emirates Novel Award last year for We Came from the Mountain's Rib, and Hind Al Barr, author of Kunar.
• Friday, March 6, 6.30pm, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Recommended for ages 12+
The Book Thief and Beyond
The Australian author Markus Zusak will discuss his acclaimed work The Book Thief, which not only gained international acclaim but was also adapted for the big screen in a 2013 film featuring the Academy Award-winning actor Geoffrey Rush and Emily Watson. Learn more from Zusak about the book that is set in Nazi Germany.
• Friday, March 6, 1pm, InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. Recommended for ages 12+
• Tickets for all events cost Dh50 and are available at www.emirateslitfest.com
* Malavika Vettath
