Books

Our top picks from the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature

Here are some of the not-to-be-missed events happening at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. And we have a round-up of events for children that is sure to inspire the love of reading.

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

Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association
Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

On Women's Day
Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands