TimeOut Kids honours Isobel Abulhoul with Outstanding Contribution Award

Dubai, 30 September, 2014:Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director of Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, has been bestowed theOutstanding Contribution Award for her lifelong work with children and education at the first TimeOut Kids Awards. The award was announced at a gala dinner held at Westin Hotel.

The honour caps off a successful year forAbulhoul, who earlier this year received the Distinguished Culture Award at the 21st Al Owais Creative Award and was nominated one of the most influential Brits in the UAE by Arabian Business. Her brainchild, theEmirates Airline Festival of Literature, has also had a fruitful year, completing its sixth year in March and defending its title of Best Festival at the Middle East Event Awards.

Abulhoul has worked tirelessly to establish and maintain a reading culture among children in the country since she first came to the UAE in 1968. Abulhoul has helpedpublish children’s books in Arabic and English and has initiated reading and teaching programs for teachers to use stories as teaching aids.

Abulhoul established the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature in 2008. The children’s programme has been a key strength of the Festival, with one of the highlights being the two Education Days where students have the opportunity to interact with their favourite authors from around the world. The Festival’s students’ competitions have also created platforms for the youth of the region to express their creativity through writing and performance poetry as well as quizzes.

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, which is part of the Emirates Literature Foundation, will take place in Dubai from 3 to 7 March 2015 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President & Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and in partnership with Emirates Airline and the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage.