One of the world’s biggest literary festivals is coming to Abu Dhabi and bringing with it a whole host of talent.
Taking place from Tuesday February 25 to Friday February 28, the Hay Festival is heading to the UAE for the first time ever, bringing with it award-winning writers, journalists, historians, film-makers and artists from around the world.
There is something for everyone, including Booker prize winners like Jokha Alharthi and Bernardine Evaristo, Nobel Prize-winners, Wole Soyinka, Shirin Ebadi and Ahmed Galai, historians including William Dalrymple and Shashi Tharoor and poets Qassim Haddad, Tishani Doshi and Yang Lian.
Foodies take note because food writer Hanan Sayed will be sharing her culinary insights while an impressive number of highly-acclaimed regional novelists like Egyptian writer Adhaf Soueif, Pakistani author Fatima Bhutto and Hoda Barakat from Lebanon will also be taking part.
And there’s plenty for the littlest literary lovers and their mums and dads to enjoy too.
The family programme includes children’s authors Andy Stanton, Onjali Q Rauf, Michelle Paver and Philip Ardagh.
Plus, the youngest ever Emirati author Dana Albooshi, will be introducing audiences to 13 inspirational women from Arabia.
Education is a key focus for the festival around the world and the Abu Dhabi version is no different.
Students and teachers can sign up to a special schools programme that promises a variety of talks, performances and workshops between 9am and 12.15pm from Tuesday February 25 to Thursday February 27.
The jam-packed programme spans four days and will see over 65 speakers take part in almost 100 events taking place at Manarat Al Saadiyat.
Hay Festival started in Wales in 1987, has been held in 30 locations around the world and is now coming to the capital in February.
Tickets to the event itself are free for anyone under 25 or in full time education and all of the family events are also free of charge.
Let’s go bookworms.
Tue Feb 25-Fri Feb 27. www.hayfestival.org/abu-dhabi
