The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is taking place from January 29 to February 3 at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City. It will feature more than 150 events including author talks, panel discussions and performances.
From sessions with award-winning international writers and regional talent to talks that delve into specialist topics and performances that pay homage to the literary greats, here are The National’s picks for this year.
A Sip Through Time, January 31
Coffee lovers are invited to delve into various facets of the hot beverage with A Sip Through Time. The session, which will be in Arabic only, will be led by writer and researcher Majed Alahdal, author of Diwan Al-Qahwa. He'll provide deep insights into the history and identity of coffee.
6.30pm to 7.30pm; Khor Pavilion, Intercontinental Hotel; free event
Abraham Verghese: The Covenant of Water, January 31
Author of the hugely successful 2009 novel Cutting for Stone, Abraham Verghese will be on stage to discuss his 2023 literary hit The Covenant of Water.The story follows the mystery of a family in Kerala who lose one member to drowning. The narrative spans three generations from 1900 to 1977. Verghese will delve into this family saga set at a crucial time in India’s history.
7pm to 8pm; Story Dunes, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh100
All That Glitters, January 31
Part drama, part culinary experience and part dinner, All That Glitters is a murder mystery where no one is safe. Dinner guests can help solve the whodunnit between a group of glamorous over-the-top actors, a controlling director and a suffering assistant in a locked-down film set.
8.15pm to 10.30pm, Al Baraha lll, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh425
Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket), February 1
Children have several engaging workshops and fun activities to explore during the festival. This includes a talk by Daniel Handler, more popularly known as Lemony Snicket, the author of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The book series comprises 13 novels following the peculiar and chaotic lives of the orphaned siblings Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire. The books were adapted into a 2004 film starring Jim Carey and more recently a Netflix series starring Neil Patrick Harris. Handler's session will be moderated by children’s author Jack Meggitt-Phillips.
10am to 11am; Story Dunes, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh75
Laaleen Sukhera on 250 Years of Jane Austen, February 1
The renowned English author Jane Austen will be celebrated 250 years after her birth, as works such as Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility still resonate with audiences today.
In the Discovery Talks section that features authors and experts delving into specialised topics, Laaleen Sukhera, founder of the Jane Austen Society Menap and editor of Austenistan, will lead a talk about the novelist's life and legacy.
3pm to 3.45pm; Khor Pavilion, Intercontinental Hotel; free event
Zeinab Badawi: An African History of Africa, February
The history of cultures, countries and continents will be explored and re-examined in several sessions including An African History of Africa with journalist and filmmaker Zeinab Badawi.
The session will delve into Badawi’s book of the same name, which looks at Africa’s history from ancient civilisations to its medieval empires, through to the periods of change in recent centuries but through an African perspective.
4.15pm to 5pm; Al Baraha lll, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh75
Nizar Qabbani, February 1
Syrian diplomat, poet, writer and publisher Nizar Qabbani, whose work has been adapted into many well-known songs in the region, will be honoured in a session about love and nationhood.
Nizar Qabbani: Endless Love will be a session filled with poetry and performance where audiences can experience theatrical interpretations of Qabbani’s most famous poems.
7.30pm to 8.30pm; Al Baraha lll, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh75
An Evening with Abdulrazak Gurnah, February 1
Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Nobel Prize-winning Tanzanian-British novelist, will be on stage to discuss his latest book Theft. Known for his complex and powerful novels such as Paradise, Afterlives, Desertion and By the Sea, his works explore important concepts such as exile, identity and belonging, Gurnah will reflect on these themes and his career during his session.
7.30pm to 8.30pm; Story Dunes, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh100
The Bethlehem Banquet, February 1
In a special event, Franco-Palestinian chef, hotelier and author Fadi Kattan will host the Bethlehem Banquet, which includes dinner and conversation. Kattan will share his personal journey as an author and chef and celebrate Palestinian culture through cuisine – from its ingredients and dishes to its traditions and resilience.
8.30pm to 10.30pm; Zaytoun Restaurant, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh425
History Lessons, February 2
History is also put under the microscope through the medium of fiction with The Covenant of Water's author Abraham Verghese and Pip Williams, who penned The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Bookbinder of Jericho. The two popular novelists are set to discuss how they bring historical fiction about marginalised voices to life in authentic ways.
2pm to 3pm; Al Ras lll, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh75
Postmodern Prose, February 2
Khalid Albudoor, considered one of the pioneers of the modern poetry movement in the UAE, along with poet, writer and editor Asmaa Azaizeh will discuss the world of postmodern Arabic poetry from its beauty to its challenges. Albudoor and Azaizeh will look at various facets of this poetic movement including how writers express their experiences through the medium.
2pm to 3pm; Al Baraha l; Intercontinental Hotel; Dh50
Jack Meggitt-Phillips, February 2
Meggitt-Phillips is an English author, known for the acclaimed children's series The Beast and the Bethany, which tells the story of a 500-year-old man, a hungry beast and a rebellious prankster. The series has been translated into more than 30 languages and has a major film deal with Heyday Films.
2.30pm to 3.15pm; Al Baraha ll, Intercontinental Hotel; Dh50
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:
Juventus 1 Ajax 2
Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate
Opening Premier League fixtures, August 14
- Brentford v Arsenal
- Burnley v Brighton
- Chelsea v Crystal Palace
- Everton v Southampton
- Leicester City v Wolves
- Manchester United v Leeds United
- Newcastle United v West Ham United
- Norwich City v Liverpool
- Tottenham v Manchester City
- Watford v Aston Villa
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
Inside%20Out%202
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EKelsey%20Mann%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Amy%20Poehler%2C%20Maya%20Hawke%2C%20Ayo%20Edebiri%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E4.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Day 5, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day When Dilruwan Perera dismissed Yasir Shah to end Pakistan’s limp resistance, the Sri Lankans charged around the field with the fevered delirium of a side not used to winning. Trouble was, they had not. The delivery was deemed a no ball. Sri Lanka had a nervy wait, but it was merely a stay of execution for the beleaguered hosts.
Stat of the day – 5 Pakistan have lost all 10 wickets on the fifth day of a Test five times since the start of 2016. It is an alarming departure for a side who had apparently erased regular collapses from their resume. “The only thing I can say, it’s not a mitigating excuse at all, but that’s a young batting line up, obviously trying to find their way,” said Mickey Arthur, Pakistan’s coach.
The verdict Test matches in the UAE are known for speeding up on the last two days, but this was extreme. The first two innings of this Test took 11 sessions to complete. The remaining two were done in less than four. The nature of Pakistan’s capitulation at the end showed just how difficult the transition is going to be in the post Misbah-ul-Haq era.
About Tenderd
Started: May 2018
Founder: Arjun Mohan
Based: Dubai
Size: 23 employees
Funding: Raised $5.8m in a seed fund round in December 2018. Backers include Y Combinator, Beco Capital, Venturesouq, Paul Graham, Peter Thiel, Paul Buchheit, Justin Mateen, Matt Mickiewicz, SOMA, Dynamo and Global Founders Capital
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
