Festival Programme

Join former Scotland Yard hostage negotiator Scott Walker for a Business Breakfast on Eye of the Storm. He shares frontline insights and strategies to stay calm, make smart decisions, and turn high-pressure challenges into success.

Join Greg Mosse, author of The Coming Darkness and The Maisie Cooper Mysteries, for a two-day intensive novel-writing course. Develop plot, characters, twists, and endings in this hands-on workshop for all writers.

Pitch your novel to Meredith Miller, top UTA agent! Bring a synopsis, blurb, and first five pages for ten minutes of feedback on your story’s potential—perfect for darkly funny, thrilling, speculative, or smart contemporary fiction.

A session celebrating “HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum: Life Taught Me”, a book offering the essence of six decades of leadership and wisdom. The discussion, led by HE Dr Khalifa Ali Al Suwaidi and HE General Lieutenant Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, highlights an inspiring narrative that affirms investment in people as the foundation of nation-building.

How does a translator become a storyteller who shifts the narrative perspective? Join Faisal Al Suwaidi and Luke Leafgren as they explore the influence of culture on text and the boundaries of creative fidelity.

A panel discussion highlighting the impact of the Golden Visa in fostering creativity, featuring four recipients: Mohammad  Alnabulsi, Musab Beirutieh , Rola Nader Al Banna​, and Sahar Naja Mahfouz​. They will explore how this initiative has strengthened their professional and personal presence, while reinforcing the UAE’s position as a global hub for innovation and culture.In collaboration with the General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs - Dubai

Discover the formula behind every market-ready story in this immersive workshop with award-winning novelist and literary juror Shereen Malherbe . From audience and genre to story positioning and author voice, uncover the pillars that publishers, editors, and agents look for. Walk away with your own Story Identity Sheet, a professional blueprint for your manuscript, and the clarity to take your work to the next stage. A must for writers wanting to get their writing ready for publishing.

The journey of Arabic literature toward global readers, navigating awards and cultural sensitivities. Discussed with Kay Heikkinen, Sarah Enany, and Dr Shahla Ujayli.

Does the translator write their own poem within someone else’s? A conversation on rhythm and meaning with Dai Rahmi, Dr Ghanim Samarrai, and Soukaina Habiballah.

Pitch your novel to Oli Munson, a top agent from A.M. Heath. Bring a synopsis, blurb, and first five pages for ten minutes of honest feedback on plot, pace, character, and your book’s publishing potential.

How can values and philosophies be translated without losing their roots? A discussion with Dr Karimah Kim, Dr Nabila Yoon Eun Kyung, and Yara Al Masri on education and translation as cultural bridges connecting countries and people.

A session with Marilyn Booth and Professor Yasir Suleiman exploring the future of Arabic–English translation as a cultural bridge and the challenges of preserving the soul of Arabic literature for global readers.

Children’s graphic novels top bestseller lists for a reason. Jamie Smart, John Patrick Green, and Mo Abedin discuss crafting comics that engage young readers and why they belong in every school library.

Join innovation expert Mehran Gul for a Business Breakfast on The New Geography of Innovation. Discover how creativity, research, and entrepreneurship are shifting worldwide and where the next big ideas are emerging.

Translator Sarah Enany, a leading figure in translating Arabic literature into English, presents a knowledge-based workshop on the fundamentals of translation and the realities of the global publishing market, drawing on her experience with award-winning Arabic works.

Pitch your novel to Jemima Forrester, top David Higham agent! Bring a synopsis, blurb, and first five pages for ten minutes of feedback on your story’s potential — perfect for thrillers, historical, women’s, or speculative fiction.

A morning of storytelling, creativity, and connection — featuring a keynote, a panel, live writing, illustration, a junk-journal activity, and time and space for coffee with a like-minded community.

A session highlighting the book A Radiant Biography by researcher Muayyad Al‑Shaibani, which explores the life of His Excellency Mohammed Saeed Almulla, one of the nation’s founders. The session features his daughter, HE Ayesha Mohammed Saeed Al Mulla, alongside his grandsons, Ahmed bin Shabib and Rashed bin Shabib, in a reflective discussion on his legacy and the values that continue to inspire generations.

Get an insider's view of children’s publishing with industry stalwart Eve Wersocki-Morris as she shares behind-the-scenes stories and expert insights for authors, aspiring publicists, and curious readers.

Learn The UNMUTE Method with Mariana Missakian to discover,  shape, and share the real, unfiltered stories only you can tell.