University of Edinburgh at the Emirates Festival of Literature 2025

Final year students of Arabic reflect on their experiences of Emirates LitFest's second annual International Youth Programme in Dubai.

The news that the University of Edinburgh would be attending the 17th Emirates Festival of Literature in Dubai: a ray of sunshine amidst a typically freezing Scottish September. For many of us studying Modern Arabic Literature at the University, a chance to expand our knowledge of Middle Eastern and North African literature and culture, as well interact with likeminded students from around the world.

The event attracts thousands of visitors from over 100 countries each year, to engage in literary entertainment and discussions on a plethora of topics such as poetry, philosophy, business and travel. Our anticipation understandably grew with the days until our departure for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) got closer and closer. Then, the big day arrived. After a smooth flight direct from Edinburgh we touched down in Dubai, eager to discover what the Literature Festival had to offer over the coming five days.

On our first day, we attended the welcome sessions for the International Youth Programme. A chance to listen to some leading Emirati individuals and interact with fellow attendees from around the world. We were greeted with a number of inspirational talks from figures such as His Excellence Omar Sultan Al-Ulama, the world’s first national government minister for Artificial Intelligence and His Excellence Dr Sultan Al-Neyadi, the first Najmonaut (Arab astronaut) to conduct experiments on the International Space station. Both speakers provided a wonderful insight into the pioneering achievements made by the UAE, and outlined the role Emirati AI development plays in improving the lives of millions of people. 

In addition to the Emirati speakers, we listened to the words of Dr Yasir Suleiman, head of the selection committee for the international Arabic novel prize. In his speech, Dr Suleiman gave vital advice to aspiring Arabic writers, explaining the crucial factors considered when selecting the winner. As a former professor at the University of Edinburgh himself, it was a pleasure to listen to someone who has contributed so much to our Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies department. After the talks, we had a chance to socialise with the fellow students from numerous different universities and headed off as a cohort to the Dubai Global Village. The day was a lovely start to our trip, exposing us to the wonders of Emirati culture and innovation. 


Photo of four students and their tutor at a literary festival. They are smiling at the camera.
From left to right: Alice La Vecchia, Gus Goulding, Dr Farah Aboubakr (Lecturer in Arabic), George Humphrey-Evans and Lísa Jónasdóttir

On the second morning, all the students on the programme attended a Wikimedia project, learning about the importance of freedom of access to information as well as the vital role of community in helping to develop information services on Arabic language platforms. We engaged in the Wiki million project and worked to create new contributions in Wikidata, as well as taking part in a wonderful cultural exchange activity. Delegates from universities around the world exchanged objects with cultural significance, and equipped with a soft toy Loch Ness monster, it proved a wonderful opportunity to learn a little more about different cultures. 

From the second afternoon onwards, we had the opportunity to attend the Festival of Literature itself.  Our first talk was titled the ‘absent winner’, and was delivered by Rana Idris and Yousif Khandeqgi, the brother of the imprisoned Palestinian writer Bassem Khandeqgi, who had won the Arabic booker prize 2024 for his novel ‘A Mask, the Colour of the Sky.’ Yousif recounted the difficulties Bassem had experienced when writing the book, explaining how books were often smuggled to Bassem whilst in prison, in order to help him paint a picture of an outside world unknown to him. This proved incredibly thought-provoking, and a welcome continuation of study into Palestinian literature for some of us students who had previously been taught about Mahmud Darwish, and his resistance poetry.

Following this event we attended a roundtable event, with Arab writers and critics alike discussing the state of Arabic literature. Themes such as the dangers of technology were touched upon, as well as questioning of the role of tradition in writing.  We then attended a conference with the famous Egyptian writer Muhammed Al-Mensi Qendeel, whose works have been made into many screen adaptations. As a writer who blends story and history, Al-Mensi Qendeel gave insight as to how his travels helped create his story ‘Moon over Samarqand’ and discussed the importance of historical knowledge to write a good story. For the couple of students who had spent their prior year of study in Cairo, this talk was also a welcome opportunity to listen to the docile tones of Egyptian dialect again. Overall, the day was thoroughly enjoyable, combining a cultural exchange in the morning with opportunities to listen to insightful discourse surrounding literature and culture of the Arab world, in the afternoon.


The fascinating talks of the Literature Festival continued on the third day, and we started by attending a roundtable discussion with several writers discussing the importance of Gulf literature. As students who had not had great exposure to Gulf literature, this talk was one of our favourites, and we particularly took note of the comment given by Abd Latif Yusef regarding the importance in establishing Gulf identity and narrative within wider Arabic literature. 

Following this we attended Hala Gorani’s talk on her new book release ‘But you don’t look Arab’. In her talk, Gorani, a former CNN and NBC journalist, addressed some of the key themes within her book which included struggles with identity and the skill of good journalism in a time where attention spans are ever declining. What was particularly interesting to us as students was the importance Gorani stressed on fact-checking and the risks of unchecked facts on news.  

To end the day, we attended a discussion titled ‘Anecdotes of Arab Anglophiles’ between His Excellence Mohammed Ahmed Al-Murr and Fasial Abbas, where they recounted their many hilarious experiences in the United Kingdom. As proud Brits, and self-proclaimed Anglophone Arabophiles, it was a welcome reminder of home, and a very entertaining alternative perspective on Scottish and English culture.


On our penultimate day in Dubai, we had the pleasure of being taken to explore more of the United Arab Emirates. We travelled from Dubai to Fujirah, and admired the beautiful Emirati landscapes as we drove. Once in Fujairah, we had the opportunity to explore historical sites from the Emirates’ past, such as the Fujairah fort, built in the 16th century and one of the largest and oldest forts in the country, and also explored Al Hayl Fort in Wadi Hayl, an area that had been settled in since the Bronze Age. This spot offered a scenic view of the surrounding mountains. A moment of peace and tranquillity compared to the energy and vibrancy of Dubai. 

Afterwards, we had the honour of entering Al Bidya Mosque, long considered the oldest mosque in the United Arab Emirates. To end our excursion, we visited the Fujairah Philosophy House, a cultural centre for the study of philosophy, which houses a library, a theatre, and hosts exhibitions as well as classes for children to be introduced to philosophy. There, we ate a delicious lunch that offered traditional Emirati foods before journeying back to Dubai. 


Feeling sad about our departure, we decided to take advantage of the city and went on a quick trip to the Burj Khalifa. With the sun on our faces, we reminisced on our experience of the festival. Getting to listen to such prestigious literary figures with incredible histories, our understanding of what literature means has widened immensely. What can, at first glance, come across as simple words on a page, at second glace, become a world all unto itself. Through the festival, we were able to dive into the minds of these genii and understand that literature is more than books and storytelling, but emotions, history and culture laid bare. In the context of the rich Arab world, the festival enabled us to dip our toes into what literature can mean to people; an escape from prison or an expression of love for a country you’ve never been to.  

The festival also permitted us to connect with students from every corner of the world, from Oslo to Sydney, allowing us further insight into what literature means for people of different countries. We shared and recounted our own stories and books that have impacted our lives so far. We sat around comparing our languages, our methods of self-expression, sharing little ways in which words could be manipulated to mean many things all at once. 

With that, all we can say is thank you Emirates and thank you to the Emirates Literature Foundation for this incredible opportunity. An opportunity to discover authors, cultures and even discover ourselves a bit more in the meantime. Experiences like this really make us pause and ponder because ultimately, even though we have all had a unique life experience, we are all the same. Just people wanting to live each day a bit better than the last, a good book being the first step in the right direction.


Experiences like this really make us pause and ponder because ultimately, even though we have all had a unique life experience, we are all the same. Just people wanting to live each day a bit better than the last, a good book being the first step in the right direction.

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