In collaboration with the UAE’s Ministry of Tolerance, a new edition of Hay Festival will take place to host internationally acclaimed authors and thinkers over four days of entertainment and inspiration.

With this edition, Hay Festival returns to the Arab world, building on the success of its three editions in Beirut and the publication of its celebrated anthology of short stories by the best Arab writers under the age of 39, many of whom are now distinguished authors and journalists.

The festival will host internationally acclaimed authors and thinkers including Nobel Laureates, Ahmed Galai, Shirin Ebadi, Hoda Barakat, Jokha Alharthi, Muhammed Hasan Alwan, Tishani Doshi and many more. 

Hay Festival Abu Dhabi will also invite diverse voices to tell stories, sampling the best of contemporary international and Arab literature, including poets from the UAE’s vibrant spoken word and slam poetry scene. Conversations will take place in Arabic or English and all sessions will be translated live to Arabic and English.