![The festival in 2023 is taking place at Intercontinental in Festival City and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library from February 1 to 6.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6LJQANRTJCEPGWKARYBSBBCQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e351dbce4c108f8f182a7daca27e1e6c5ee249edb61174ceefbd68504db17db&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on its opening day in 2022. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QJWOJBZ6O5EN3MGROTYWLUHBTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5899b9aac155276b4ebf0d33dad08e8cd8760a3584896016199a47190ecd39ad&width=400&height=225)
![The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature moved venue for 2022 to Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, from the Intercontinental in Dubai Festival City.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLTNYGVXHVDGRHOQ7YADV7STVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=13190009acea925f6675b0d85b3910af03dbd4f7dae2b91a84a3a204e3e9d88e&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri was among the prominent UAE figures present on the opening day.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HKCUO5VRH5DWLCYKY6DYGST2EM.jpg?smart=true&auth=577cd32e68576243e682859d323effbfff9cdb7b650de0ee355ba2dac5080023&width=400&height=225)
![A snippet from the animated show 'Freej' by Mohammed Saeed Harib is projected at the ‘Nostalgia Culture’ session.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HKPRSBZSCZFYBD42ANVIBCS4SY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f036f6bfc9c8aa50ce72869f8359c8d0978d2c6c3fa122195b2ce84409aa201&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammed Saeed Harib, creator of 'Freej', the first Emirati cartoon series during the session on ‘Nostalgia Culture’.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BTEE4WIUIFE7RCPJGGFFZVE62Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=033901936251d5bf671bca7ce1d7ee1c9cb09da59d8a66e5176fd213967a04b2&width=400&height=225)
![The first day of the festival was marked as Emirati Day to promote local cultural talent.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JDBRJGCTGZA2XADOUUTHZS23VM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d281f30463b15f1ab9483b440090f5089e1ec6fe3707cdba3dbc9a40a975265&width=400&height=225)
![Children's books on sale at the festival.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BET3XLKCPNEKLKJ46JKR3WWJ6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=399f4dbe59229fa270c8a9b25ca147b2f148421a04f2620be8832f2c42fc0f32&width=400&height=225)
![From left, Tiffany Delport, co-chief executive of Environmental Operations and Educational Partnerships – Mena; Isobel Abulhoul, co-founder of Magrudy’s bookshop chain; Saeed Al Nazari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority and Abdulla Ahmad Al Shaikh, Head of the Diplomatic and Consular Affairs at Dubai Police, during the session on ‘Careers of the Future’.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXPJDMABA5A4DDN4L3JIRCDYEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f7c32a95ae2405d3af0e75dabd674e33fcbfd68fb698537984ed211125a5d5d3&width=400&height=225)
![Many regional and international titles are available to readers during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FKTE3XL3XZE73IZQCBHXJEK7FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e8aeabc3437c9ca259d60a22434e7aa5518834c5eee49a2ad4023f9073b5ade&width=400&height=225)
![Free entry was granted to all visitors on the first day of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZAUDZW4Y6NF35FKZ6PDHUH54C4.jpg?smart=true&auth=81715ac3475d8f62c76d8cbb61185cdb8d3b11b3429fc5a564c9ee01b8d1c3cd&width=400&height=225)
![Students from Gems Metropole school attend the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6UI5EKZQMJE5RDL6TG3LOQCDDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=48cf07600a7144e3903d410727b0a4eb4409cfdbfcdeda0b573845c793279000&width=400&height=225)
![The festival's first day focused on Emirati literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/24M47HKHPRDDNOSVVPBYMZVNJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2efb595c25107a487c8c6966348cdb8d52b2b236c842a70047554165991f3109&width=400&height=225)
![Many international authors fly in for the literary festival.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BTHRXHOJMVC67KOGSWKAHSB7FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1627569a44f640c131b4a4e15a26b9a35d5050f7e38d3ff368cb10908e4a8a1c&width=400&height=225)
![The event was a more virtual affair last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L7DZO7I76FEZDNOHEQFI77OGUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ba4305add337ce0314f7691da5b316f536034ccdec96fe31bf8aae0d6b75c86&width=400&height=225)
![The festival in 2023 is taking place at Intercontinental in Festival City and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library from February 1 to 6.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6LJQANRTJCEPGWKARYBSBBCQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e351dbce4c108f8f182a7daca27e1e6c5ee249edb61174ceefbd68504db17db&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, director general of Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on its opening day in 2022. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QJWOJBZ6O5EN3MGROTYWLUHBTQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5899b9aac155276b4ebf0d33dad08e8cd8760a3584896016199a47190ecd39ad&width=400&height=225)
![The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature moved venue for 2022 to Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, from the Intercontinental in Dubai Festival City.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLTNYGVXHVDGRHOQ7YADV7STVQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=13190009acea925f6675b0d85b3910af03dbd4f7dae2b91a84a3a204e3e9d88e&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri was among the prominent UAE figures present on the opening day.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HKCUO5VRH5DWLCYKY6DYGST2EM.jpg?smart=true&auth=577cd32e68576243e682859d323effbfff9cdb7b650de0ee355ba2dac5080023&width=400&height=225)
![A snippet from the animated show 'Freej' by Mohammed Saeed Harib is projected at the ‘Nostalgia Culture’ session.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HKPRSBZSCZFYBD42ANVIBCS4SY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7f036f6bfc9c8aa50ce72869f8359c8d0978d2c6c3fa122195b2ce84409aa201&width=400&height=225)
![Mohammed Saeed Harib, creator of 'Freej', the first Emirati cartoon series during the session on ‘Nostalgia Culture’.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BTEE4WIUIFE7RCPJGGFFZVE62Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=033901936251d5bf671bca7ce1d7ee1c9cb09da59d8a66e5176fd213967a04b2&width=400&height=225)
![The first day of the festival was marked as Emirati Day to promote local cultural talent.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JDBRJGCTGZA2XADOUUTHZS23VM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d281f30463b15f1ab9483b440090f5089e1ec6fe3707cdba3dbc9a40a975265&width=400&height=225)
![Children's books on sale at the festival.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BET3XLKCPNEKLKJ46JKR3WWJ6U.jpg?smart=true&auth=399f4dbe59229fa270c8a9b25ca147b2f148421a04f2620be8832f2c42fc0f32&width=400&height=225)
![From left, Tiffany Delport, co-chief executive of Environmental Operations and Educational Partnerships – Mena; Isobel Abulhoul, co-founder of Magrudy’s bookshop chain; Saeed Al Nazari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority and Abdulla Ahmad Al Shaikh, Head of the Diplomatic and Consular Affairs at Dubai Police, during the session on ‘Careers of the Future’.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PXPJDMABA5A4DDN4L3JIRCDYEQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f7c32a95ae2405d3af0e75dabd674e33fcbfd68fb698537984ed211125a5d5d3&width=400&height=225)
![Many regional and international titles are available to readers during the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FKTE3XL3XZE73IZQCBHXJEK7FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=9e8aeabc3437c9ca259d60a22434e7aa5518834c5eee49a2ad4023f9073b5ade&width=400&height=225)
![Free entry was granted to all visitors on the first day of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ZAUDZW4Y6NF35FKZ6PDHUH54C4.jpg?smart=true&auth=81715ac3475d8f62c76d8cbb61185cdb8d3b11b3429fc5a564c9ee01b8d1c3cd&width=400&height=225)
![Students from Gems Metropole school attend the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6UI5EKZQMJE5RDL6TG3LOQCDDQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=48cf07600a7144e3903d410727b0a4eb4409cfdbfcdeda0b573845c793279000&width=400&height=225)
![The festival's first day focused on Emirati literature.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/24M47HKHPRDDNOSVVPBYMZVNJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=2efb595c25107a487c8c6966348cdb8d52b2b236c842a70047554165991f3109&width=400&height=225)
![Many international authors fly in for the literary festival.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BTHRXHOJMVC67KOGSWKAHSB7FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1627569a44f640c131b4a4e15a26b9a35d5050f7e38d3ff368cb10908e4a8a1c&width=400&height=225)
![The event was a more virtual affair last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L7DZO7I76FEZDNOHEQFI77OGUA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4ba4305add337ce0314f7691da5b316f536034ccdec96fe31bf8aae0d6b75c86&width=400&height=225)
![The festival in 2023 is taking place at Intercontinental in Festival City and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library from February 1 to 6.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/L6LJQANRTJCEPGWKARYBSBBCQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0e351dbce4c108f8f182a7daca27e1e6c5ee249edb61174ceefbd68504db17db&width=400&height=225)
Emirates Airline Festival of Literature: new venue, old bustle
Now in its 14th year, the event began on Thursday and is taking place until February 13 at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City
![Razmig Bedirian](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F275b4b76-cb6d-410e-a5df-c23d65484c26.png?smart=true&auth=fc94b07464368c9c664f3bd102f95ffe4c76b1b38fe7d6fee2362e26add51d0e&width=70&height=70)
Razmig Bedirian
February 03, 2022
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