More than 250 of the world’s most sought-after authors and literary personalities will be in Dubai from 1-6 February 2023 for the 15th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, the biggest celebration of stories in the Arab region and one of the top literary festivals in the world. And with just less than two weeks to go until the highly anticipated event, here are some of the sessions Vogue Arabia is most looking forward to.
Brian Cox: Shakespeare, Success, & Succession
Emmy-award-winning movie and theatre legend Brian Cox, currently best known for his role as the Machiavellian patriarch in the hit series Succession, will be at the Festival to tell his own rags-to-riches life story, discussing his journey to success and his ongoing experience from within the showbiz industry. Don’t miss the chance to hear the formidable man behind the legend!
Details: Thursday 2 February 2023, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
One of the world’s best-selling authors, Ahern’s novels have been translated into 35 languages
Girl Bosses & Go-Getters by Ann Hiatt, Ghizlan Guenez, and Rissa Mananquil Trillo
From Silicon Valley success to tech entrepreneurship and building a world-class beauty brand, this panel of high-achieving female entrepreneurs and working women will discuss the challenges they face as they aim to climb the corporate ladder, as well as outline their individual realities and experiences of ambition and work culture in the 21st Century.
Details: Sunday 5 February 2023, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Cecelia Ahern
One of the world’s best-selling authors, Ahern’s novels have been translated into 35 languages with two of them – P.S. I Love You and Love, Rosie – adapted into films. She will be bringing insights on how to write warm, uplifting, empathetic stories that enthral and resonate with millions of people around the world.
Shulman will explore her time as the editor of Vogue
Vex King and Kaushal
Discover how to become the best version of yourself with this husband-wife duo: Vex King is the mind coach and Sunday Times’ No1 bestselling author, while partner Kaushal is a make-up artist and social media star. Together, they will take you on a journey of self-exploration, explaining how to healthily process and regulate your emotions and, through the process of journalling, track your personal growth and build self-awareness. With proven techniques to shift negative mindsets and cultivate positive thought patterns, they will reveal how to build and maintain routines and habits that work for you.
Details: Thursday 2 February 2023, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Does The Devil Still Wear Prada? Alexandra Shulman, Kat Farmer, and Kaushal
A trio of experts, Alexandra Shulman, the fashion expert, journalist, and formerly the longest-serving editor of British Vogue; Kat Farmer the stylist and presenter on BBC’s ‘You Are What You Wear’; and Kaushal Beauty, a renowned regional make-up artist and social influencer. The three join forces to reveal their essential beauty and style tips – from trends to classics.
In another session, Shulman will explore her time as the editor of Vogue, taking guests on a journey into the world of fashion as she talks all things style.
Details: Saturday 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2023, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
A Dinner with Bobby Chinn
Join the celebrity chef and acclaimed Top Chef Middle East judge as he shows how elegant dining can have a focus on sustainability with an exclusively crafted menu accompanied by a fireside chat with the man himself.
Details: Friday 3 February and Saturday 4 February 2023, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Jeffrey Archer
Among the top novelists taking part in the programme, Jeffrey Archer is an author and former politician who has topped the bestseller lists around the world. When it comes to writing a bestselling novel, there is arguably no one better. Archer will be talking about how he creates his charismatic character and riveting plots, as well as providing an exploration into his next book in the William Warwick series.
Details: Saturday, 4 February and Sunday 5 February 2023, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Spoken Word
On Thursday2 February an open mic night will be held in an outdoor setting at Mohammed bin Rashid Library’s Amphitheatre, inviting the region’s brightest poets to share their artistic flair during an eclectic, inclusive showcase of the best home-grown spoken word talent.
Desert Stanzas
The festival’s much-loved signature event will make its return on the opening night, featuring poetry renditions and narratives that encourage reminiscing and paying tribute to ancestral wisdom and cultures of the past. There will also be homage to the preservation of the planet and the COP28 story, interpreted through performance.
Details: Wednesday 1 February, Desert Camp in Jebel Ali
For more information and tickets, visit www.emirateslitfest.com