The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature (EAFOL) is an international literature festival held annually in the United Arab Emirates. The festival is held under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, under the auspices of the Emirates Literature Foundation and is a partner organisation of the Dubai International Writers' Centre.
Contents
EAFOL is held each March in Dubai over a five-day period. It features more than 200 sessions and unique events including workshops, masterclasses and poetry readings. The programme has events for adults and children in Arabic, English, French as well as other languages. An estimated 37,000+ visitors attend the festival each year.
Along with daily sessions, EAFOL conducts a "Fringe" for children to encourage local talent. Students also get the opportunity to meet international authors during two "Education Days".
EAFOL is held at several locations around the city of Dubai, but the bulk of sessions are conducted in the InterContinental Hotel, Dubai Festival City. The festival is held in partnership with Emirates and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, the Emirate's authority for culture, arts, and heritage.
History
Awards
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature won the Middle East Event Awards’ Best Festival Award three times, in 2013, 2014 and 2015.