Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

Abdullah al-Shwaikh is an Emirati journalist and columnist. He has been contributing a regular

Aida Al Busaidy heads up the Consumer to Consumer Marketing Management Department of Tourism

Alia Al Shamsi is a Dubai-based Emarati Author and Photographer. After receiving a BA in

Ammar Al Attar is a photographer and mixed media artist. Born in 1981, he lives in Ajman in the

Andrew Staples is a journalist and gamer who currently serves as chief business reporter and

Ayesha Shukralla is the content developer and presenter at Sharjah Radio. Her passion is to

Brandy Scott is one of the hosts of The Business Breakfast, Dubai Eye’s award-winning

Charlotte Spafford loves reading, anytime, anywhere, whether it is adventure, mystery or

Christopher Bradley lives in Dubai with his wife and three daughters. A native of the UK, he

Ciarán Kelley is an educator with almost 20 years of experience of teaching across the entire

Dalia Aboul Atta holds a Diploma in HR from the American University of Cairo. When she moved to

With a career spanning 35 years in the retail industry, David Macadam brings an unrivalled

David Mercer is a British sports broadcaster specialising in tennis, badminton and rowing. He

Deepika Shetty has made a name for assimilating her varied life experiences into her writing

Dr Ghanim Jasim M. Samarrai is the Head of the Department of English Language and Literature,

Dr. Sulaiman Al Hattlan is the founder and CEO of Hattlan Media, which aims to conduct research

Eithne Treanor runs a specialist media consultancy company based in Dubai. She is a

Ellah Wakatama Allfrey is a London-based editor and critic. She served as a judge for the Man

Eman Al Yousuf is a Chemical Engineer and a certified coach in Graphology. Al Yousuf is also an

Fahad Almamari is an Emirati scholar and writer specializing in Arabic Literature and Heritage.

Fiona Lindsay has over 25 years of professional experience in the arts and entertainment

Francis Matthew is the Editor-at-Large of Gulf News, where he writes on UAE and GCC social and

Gamze Hakli Geray is a Psychotherapist and Counsellor with nearly 23 years of business,

Georgina Godwin is an independent broadcast journalist. A regular chair of literary events, she

Guy Guillemard has moderated panels and authors at various literary events, including the

Hafsa Hariga is a translator, critic and writer. She started her own blog, Roh Al Yasmine,

Haider Khan, a self-professed Bio Hacker, marathoner and proponent of Healthy Lifestyles, is

Hooda Al Shawa Al Qaddumi is a Kuwaiti writer. She was the recipient of the Sheikh Zayed Book

Ibrahim Ustadi is an Emirati theatre actor and radio presenter for Dubai Radio. He has a

Iman Ben Chaibah comes with IT Management experiences cultivated over ten years. She founded

James was lured to the Middle East more than 20 years ago on the promise of adventure. The

Hey, I’m Jenin! I will be one of the many hosts at the Emirates Airline Festival of

Jo Browning Wroe writes for educational publishers in the UK and the US and has received awards

‘Having been involved since the very first year of the Festival, Joan Scott-Minter

Julia Wheeler is an experienced journalist and interviewer who worked for the BBC for more than

Kevin Hasler is back for his second consecutive year as a Festival moderator. As the Managing

Lea Sellers is a media trainer and communications consultant. She has run workshops at the

Lori Dorman has been moderating and hosting at the Festival for three years. The authors she

Marcia Lynx Qualey is the founder of ArabLit.org, a web magazine that brings together

Maha Shakir has been an active member of various book clubs in Dubai since 2010. She is also

Mana’a Al Maeeni is an Emirati author. His has published a number of books including Memories

Manal Al Ahdab is an applied Psychologist and coach with more than 20 years’ experience in HR,

Mark Lemmon has lived in Dubai for nine years running a successful infrastructure fund

Meredith Chipperton is a highly accomplished singer, actress and voice over artist who has a

Michelle Loxton is a broadcast journalist based in Dubai. She has nearly 8 years’ experience

Naouel Chaoui began her career in her native Algeria, as a University academic and

Nonny Haines is 11. She lives in Dubai with her family and attends Jumeirah College. She hosted

Parween Habib is a poet, literary and cultural researcher, and media expert. She has overseen

Considered one of the pre-eminent and talented author interviewers and panel moderators at

Peter spent 42 years teaching Mathematics, 25 of them in Dubai College, so crowd control is his

Peter Hellyer, an Adviser at the UAE’s National Media Council, is author and editor of

Rachel Hamilton is an award-winning children’s author, so she spends her days either

Rehan Khan is the author of the fantasy series, The Tasburai Chronicles (Last of the Tasburai

Riz Khan is an international journalist, author, and public speaker recognized across the globe

Robert Mitchell hails from the UK and has lived and worked in Dubai since 1992. Further back

Rosie Goldsmith is an award-winning journalist specializing in arts and current affairs, in the

Sally Mousa is an Australian radio presenter and producer with Dubai Eye Radio. Of Middle

Salwa Al Qadoumi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Birzeit University

Shen Husain is a psychologist by training with degrees from Cornell and the LSE, an

Steven Gale is a festival moderator and curator based in London. He has worked at theatres in

Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi is a United Arab Emirates-based columnist whose articles have appeared

Tim Willcox is currently one of the most widely watched presenters on BBC News. Anchoring in

Turki Al Zaabi is a passionate reader of fiction and non-fiction in Arabic, English and French.