The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation (MBRF) has appointed Ali Al Shaali as chief executive officer for the Dubai International Poetry Festival.

The inaugural edition of the Festival, to be held from March 4 to 11 next year, is expected to attract more than 120 leading poets from around 40 countries.

Al Shaali will steer the debut event in addition to handling his current responsibilities as director – Publishing under the Foundation’s Culture Sector.

The Dubai International Poetry Festival aims to set the stage for effective inter-cultural dialogue, while contributing to enhanced global understanding through the language of poetry.

“We are confident his professional competency and organisational skills will help achieve the poetry festival’s objectives, strongly establishing the event on the global cultural calendar,” stated Yasser Hareb, vice president culture sector, MBRF.
 
Leading the Foundation’s cultural operations, Al Shaali oversees coordination with key stakeholders including publishers, writers, and poets among others. He also leads the implementation of the authors’ grants programme Okutb, the translation programme Tarjem, and the translators’ training and qualification programme Turjuman.

The Dubai International Poetry Festival is anticipated to draw the participation of eminent poets from across the GCC and Mena region, as well as Australia, Canada, China, Czech Republic, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, and South Korea.

Other countries that will be represented at the event also include the US, the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Russia and Ukraine among other Latin American countries.

Seeking to promote the rich regional culture, Nabati poetry, an indigenous genre unique to the GCC region, will be also strongly represented at the event. 

Various activities will mark the Dubai International Poetry Festival agenda in key locations across Dubai including schools, shopping malls, community centres, cafes, and cultural heritage locations. Activities will range from poetry reading sessions to short plays, stage performances, and themed musical nights.-TradeArabia News Service